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tli'at Vislinoo took' the form of a Bramm dwarf Vnoivn hjihe name 

 of Vamanavatarum and confined the powerful gi mt Mahabelee in 

 the subterraneous regions, that this giant, while he g verned, being 

 very fond of illuminations, to gratify himself furnished each house 

 with a certain measure of oil, and that in going to the substerrane- 

 ous region he prayed Vishnoo that he would have the goodness to 

 continue the custom he had established on eaith. The God pro- 

 mised to grant lis request, and at the same time permitted him to 

 return to earth every year, on that day, that he might himself be an 

 eye-witness how faithfully the promise he had made was kept. It 

 is on this account that the illumination is made, and that children 

 holding fire in their hands divert themselves in the streets with cry- 

 ing out Mahabeleo. 



8. Moocote Yacadesi— On the llth day of the increasing moon 

 in the 9th solar month Margaly, or December January, a general 

 fast is observed in honor of Vishnoo and kept all the day and night. 

 This is the day of the great festival of the Vishnoo Pagoda at stree- 

 rungum near Trichinopoly. The festival is also solemnized in every 

 Vishnoo Pagoda. 



9. Auroodra Durasanum — On the day of the full moon when 

 the moon is in the constellation Auroodra in the same month is the 

 festival of Margaly Teroomunjanum which is celebrated in the Pa- 

 godas of Seevah, and particularly at Chellumbrum, where this diety 

 is worshipped under the name of Subhaputly. 



10. Ootta Rayana-\ On the 1st day of the 10th solar month 

 Poonyacalum. or \ Tye, or January, February when the sun 

 Pungall J enters Capricornus is the grand festival of 



the Pungall, which lasts three days. The ceremony consists in 

 boiling rice with milk, in order that the parties may draw anguries 

 from the milk boiling. As soon as the first ebullition is perceived, 

 the women and children cry out Pungall, which means, it boils. 

 This ceremony is performed in the house, and the place appropriated 

 for the purpose must be first purified with cow-dung. They make 

 a stone, on which they dress the rice, and which they first present to 

 the Gods ; and then all the people in the house must partake of it. 

 The second day the festival is called. Mauttoo Pungall, or the Pun- 

 gall of Cows. They paint the horns of their horned cattle, cover 

 them with flowers and then make them run about tfie streets, and 

 lastly make Pungall for them at home. In the evening the image 

 of the God is carried in procession out of the town. The idol is 



