311 



Second Paper on a march between Mhow and Sagur. By Khan Alt. 

 On the Huli in Malwa. 



The traveller in India can never be without something to interest 

 him, so little do we know of the country, and of its inhabitants ; 



thus, when no antiquities were at hand, we amused ourselves 



by attending the different ceremonies of the Huli, which was playing 

 all round us. 



The Huli usually to be seen in our well regulated cantonments, or 

 the towns of our Provinces, attracts but little attention, the leisure 

 rendered so interesting by its classical associations, being repressed 

 by order and decorum; while dirty water thrown about, constitutes 

 nearly all the fun ; and the bon-fires are but a scanty collection of faggots, 

 hardly sufficient to warm one's hands by. The festival to be appreciated 

 must be witnessed in all its native rudeness in the towns and villages 

 still ruled by Hindoos, far removed from Mussulman prejudice and 

 European police. (1) 



In the villages in this neighbourhood, for instance, there is one grand 

 general bon-flre, (2) which sometimes rises to a height, beside which 

 an Eton 5th of November one would look dwarfish. The first stick is 

 planted on the 5th Sudi of Magh. (3) The potail, the village priest, the 

 boys and the idlers, assemble round the well known spot set apart for 

 the purpose, and the ground having been swept and sprinkled with 



1. It was at first intended to note only such peculiarities of practice as we might 

 observe in the celebration of the Huli in this part of India, but it was found impossible, 

 in many cases, to separate local from general customs, and my remarks have thus 

 swelled into an essay, which though perhaps misplaced here, is allowed to remain, 

 as I am not aware of any detailed account of this festival in English ; but you are at 

 liberty to omit the description, should any such have been published. The customs 

 more peculiar to this neighbourhood, are pointed out in the text. 



2. In towns each muhul has its own bon-fire. 



3. Improperly, the full of the moon being the orthodox time. This advance of 

 ten days is very unusual in our provinces, and is by no means general even here. 

 The 5th, however, the first day of Bussunt is, every where, one of much sanctity; pooja 

 is said to Krishna and Rukmuni, to Camdeo and his wife Ruti, and it is proper to feast 

 Brahmuns, the family priest, and friends. The whole month of Magh, indeed, is 

 esteemed by the Vishnooees holy, above all other months, and serves as an introduction 

 to the gaieties of the Huli, in memory of Krishna's sports at this season of his 

 minstrelsey "which delighted bees, birds, and deer," and "drew down the rude 

 applause of the Gopis and Gopas," and to his refreshing himself in the Jumna 

 after his fatigues. Laughing and singing, and clapping of hands, and bathing should 

 be the principal occupation of the month. The last is the most important duty : it 

 should commence from the 11th Sudi of Poos, and continue to the end of Magh, and 

 if regularly performed, (when half the rising sun's disk appears above the horizon,) 

 washes away (according to the Pudum Puran) all sins. 



