No. 23. — 1881.] KANDYAN CEREMONIES. 37 



5. — The A lutsdl Mangalyaya, or festival of the new rice. This 

 festival takes place on the full-moon day in January. At the 

 appointed hour, a large procession consisting of certain officers 

 and the representatives of certain temples, with their attend- 

 ants, elephants, etc., proceeds to the village of Gurudeniya in 

 Lower Hewaheta, and there receives a fixed share of the new 

 rice and of the rice of the previous year ; the villagers of 

 Gurudeniya having originally obtained their lands from the 

 king of Kandy on condition of devoting a certain portion of 

 their harvests to this purpose. A fixed quantity is given to 

 each; but as this in many cases is very small, it is seldom that 

 all the temples and officers are represented. I however annex 

 an interesting list {vide Appendix) shewing how the rice should 

 be distributed, and during the time of the kings all the persons 

 to whom rice was due were compelled to be present. The dis- 

 tribution takes place at the de*wale* at Gurudeniya ; and in the 

 case of temples the rice is taken home in procession and cooked 

 on the following morning. It is then offered at the shrine, and 

 afterwards distributed to the different priests and officers. 



6. —JSfdnumura Mangalyaya: the ceremony of purification. 

 This is performed every Wednesday morning in every temple 

 erected by the Kandyan kings, as follows. Some lime juice is 

 made before the daily rice is' offered, and is mixed with cuscus, 

 sandal, and other fragrant herbs and bark. The officiating 

 priest takes a looking-glass, and, holding it in front of the 

 shrine, anoints the reflected image with the preparation. A 

 vessel is held under to catch the liquor as it drops, to prevent 

 it from falling to the ground. The liquor is then thrown away 

 and the daily offerings are made. 



7. — The reading of Bana, or the sacred scriptures. This is 

 done for the most part on the " p6ya" days of the month — i e., 

 the four phases of the moon. The officiating priest, being seated 

 on an elevated seat made for the purpose, recites passages from 

 the Buddhist scriptures, generally from some portion of a 



