19 



14. Mahalayaputcha — The holy days of Mahalayapntcha which 

 last for 15 days commence on the 1st day of the decreasing moon 

 of the 6th lunar month Bhadrapada. It is celebrated only m the 

 houses, in honor of deceased ancestors, while it lasts they make the 

 Turpanum * for them, and give alms to the bramins either in mo- 

 ney, clothes (linen) or even in rice and vegetables &c. 



15. Navarafre or Vusserah — On the first day of the increas- 

 ing moon of the 7th month Aswija this grand festival commences 

 and lasts nine days. After the Pongall, it is the most celebrated 

 festival. Processions and public ceremonies are made in the pagodas 

 while it lasts. The school boys properly dressed, walk through the 

 streets, accompanied by their mastei's. They stop at the houses of 

 great men, and sing verses composed in their praise, and also play 

 Kolatums f with small painted sticks; where they get money to 

 amuse themselves, and their masters also get great presents. It is 

 at this time that the grand festival at the Terooputy pagoda is ce- 

 lebrated 



16. Saraswati Poojah — This festival which is in fact a part of 

 the foregoing is observed on the day when the moon is in the con- 

 stellation Moola. It is on this day that the Auyooda Pooja is per- 

 formed, which means the ceremony of arms or instruments. Each 

 person collects all the arms he has, or the instruments of his trade 

 and exposes them unsheathed in a chamber well cleaned ; and all 

 his books and musical instruments. The officiating bramin comes 

 to perform the ceremonies. He takes water in a small cup and first 

 presents it to the Gods ; then with mango leaves, he sprinkles all 

 the vehicles and animals belonging to the house, and even the books 

 and vessels, if the owner of the house has any. The eight first 

 days of the Navaratri are consecrated to Siva and Vishnoo ; but the 

 ninth day is devoted to the honor of the three Goddesses, Parvatee, J 

 Lutchmee, IF and Saraswatee. § The first is represented by the em- 

 blem of arms, as the destructive Goddess ; the second by the 

 carriages, boats, and animals, as the Goddess of riches, and the 

 third by the books and musical instruments, as Goddess of lan- 

 guages and the fine arts. The Auyooda Pooja is a feast so sacred, 

 that if a Hindoo is attacked on the day of its celebration, he will 

 not take arms to defend himself^ It is related that the general of 



♦ A religious rite, presenting water to the Udmes of the deceased. Wilson. 



t A kind of play with small pieces of sticks, in which dancing girls or 

 school boys, by moving in different directions, plait into one rope separate 

 strings held in one hand, while they keep time, by beating the sticks held ia 

 the other, against each other. CampbeU. 



t Wife of Seevah. ^ Goddes* of richea. § Goddess of loarniug. 



