1894.] E. Vansittart— Tribes , Clans , and Castes of Nepal. 243 
day of the Dasahra this is visited by the whole battalion in state pro¬ 
cession. 
Festivals. —The following is a table of the festivals observed bv 
Gurkhas in our service, with the leave allowed:— 
Basant Pancaml (in honour of Spring) .... 
Qivaratri .......... 
H51I (carnival) ... . . 
Snan Saijkranti ......... 
Rikhl Tarpan .. 
Janam Astami (called Janmastaun) . . . . . 
Dasahra (called Dasin) .... . . . 
Diwali (called Tiwar, the feast of lamps in honour of the 
goddess Bhawanl, at new moon of month of Karttik) . 
Maghia Saqkranti (Hindu New Year) . . . . 
1 day. 
1 „ 
9 days. 
1 day. 
1 „ 
1 „ 
10 days. 
4 „ 
1 day. 
The ceremonies at these festivals and their observance are, with a 
few minor points, the same as in Hindustan. 
These holidays should not in any way be curtailed or interfered 
with but should be granted in full. 
The Dasahra is the chief festival of the Gurkhas, and they endeavour 
to celebrate it whether in quarters or the field. Great preparations 
are made for it in procuring goats, buffaloes, etc., for the sacrifice. 
Every man in the regiment subscribes a certain amount towards the 
expenses. The commanding officers often give a buffalo or two, and 
every British officer subscribes a certain amount also. The arms of the 
regiment are piled, tents erected, and spectators invited to witness the 
dexterity of the men in severing the heads of buffaloes, the children 
performing the same office on goats. The period of this festival is con¬ 
sidered an auspicious time for undertaking wars, expeditions, etc. 
Caste rules with regard to food only apply to one description, viz .— 
“ dal and rice.” All other food, excepting “ dal and rice,” all Gurkhas 
will eat in common. With Magars, unmarried Thakurs, and with 
Gurungs, it is not necessary to take off any clothes to cook, or to eat 
any kind of food including “ dal and rice.” In Nepal the Khas need 
only remove their caps and shoes to cook or eat their food. Should a 
Brahman of the Opadhia class prepare “ dal and rice,” all castes can eat 
of it. Magars and Gurungs will not eat the above if prepared by a 
Jaici Brahman. Superior castes will not eat dal and rice with inferior 
ones. 
In our regiments men generally form little messes of their own 
varying in size from two or three to a dozen. As long as they are 
unmarried, Gurkhas of the same caste will eat everything together. 
All Gurkhas will eat “ shikar” in common, a word they use for all 
description of meat. 
