ON THE FESTIVALS AND FOLKLORE OF GILGIT. 97 



repeatedly with his stick till they reach the opposite goal. This ends this part of the 

 festival. Polo then begins, and, as is the fashion in these parts, is continued without 

 intermission till the evening of the great day. 



The "Ayi Boyi" Ceremony. 



Ayi Boyi is the name of a Gilgiti month falling next to " Shino Bozino." The day 

 fixed for performing the ceremony was publicly announced by the Ra throughout the 

 village. All the boys and young men of the village assembled in the afternoon at a place 

 just below the Ra's dwelling. The Ra used to sit on the roof of the house surrounded 

 by his private servants, and a heap of walnuts was laid before him, while his followers 

 laid a heap of ashes near them. The Ra then threw all the walnuts among the 

 people below, who scrambled for them. While they were thus employed a heavy shower 

 of ashes was hurled down by the Ra's servants upon them. In the merriment which fol- 

 lowed, the people would rush towards the Ra, endeavouring to seize him or his 

 servants, if they were strong enough to do so ; while if they proved to be the weaker, the 

 chief's followers would turn the tables against them. Should the chief himself or any of 

 his suit fall into their hands, he was only released on the payment of a suitable forfeit ; 

 but, should the struggle result in the favour of the chief and his party, the prisoners made 

 from among the people were released after a few days' captivity. 



II. 



The Ceremony of " Ganoni." 



The inhabitants of these parts are strictly prohibited from tasting any new crop 

 before accomplishing the "Ganoni" ceremony, which is celebrated in the middle of June, 

 when the wheat and barley are ripe. The Rajah or headman of the village fixes and 

 proclaims throughout his district the days for the performance of this ceremony, which 

 is carried out in the following manner. On the afternoon of the day fixed the people set 

 out to their fields with loaves fried in butter, which are greedily eaten at a corner of 

 the field by all the members of the family. After this they cut some ears of barley, bring 

 them to their homes, and keep them for a while on a fire. These husked and roasted 

 grains are now put in a small basin filled with milk or curds. Of this milk every member 

 of the family takes three wooden spoons full. Then national dances and vainglorious 

 songs continue till late in the night. 



The Duma Nikha Ceremony. 



When the people have finished the labour of reaping and winnowing their spring and 

 autumn crops, and have put the grain into bags to carry to their homes, they recite the 

 following prayer : — 



(i) Bismillah ya Khudaya Barakat deh. 



(2) Oosum, Doosum ai Barakat deh. 



(3) Kharki jawan ai Barakat deh. 



