46 
E. T. Atkinson— Notes on the history 
[No. 1, 
called the Jeth Basahra, which is generally observed thronghont the lower 
pattis or subdivisions. Special assemblies are held on this day at the 
temples of Uma at Karnprayag, Uparde at Amel, Bageswara, Koteswara 
and Sita at Sitabani in Kota, &c. This Dasahra marks the birth of Ganga, 
the worship of the Kagas and Manasa. The eleventh is called the Nirjald 
ekadasz, when drinking water is forbidden to those who profess to be de¬ 
vout. The day of the full moon is like all other similar dates observed 
by plastering the floor with cow-dung and earth and giving presents 
{nishrau or nirshau) of rice and money to Brahmans. 
Asarh. —The eleventh of the dark half of Asarh is known as the 
Yogini ehddaM, a nominal feast, only observed by those who have vowed 
to keep holy every eleventh throughout the year. During this month 
festivals are held in the temples dedicated to Bhairava and Kagaraja in 
Garhwal. The eleventh of the light half of Asarh is known as the Hari- 
sayani eJcddaU, the day when Vishnu falls asleep, which like the Hari- 
bodhmi elcddasi, or eleventh of the light half of Karttik, when Vishnu 
awakes from his sleep, is esteemed specially sacred amongst ‘ elevenths ’ 
and is generally observed throughout these districts. The day of the 
full moon is observed in the same way as in Jeth as a domestic festival. 
Sdwan or S'aim. —The eleventh of the dark half of S'awan or S'aun 
has the local name hdmihd., but is merely observed as a day of rest and 
one of the ajota days when the cattle are not harnessed. When the 
thirteenth of any month falls on a Saturday it is called S'ani trayodasi 
and is held sacred to Siva, no matter in what month or in what half of 
the month it takes place. Similarly, when the last day of the dark half of 
the month occurs on a Monday, it is called the somavati amdvasyd, which 
is generally observed as a day of rest and the srdddha of ancestors is 
performed without, however, making the pindas as prescribed for the 
S'rdddhapaJcsha of Bhado. On this day also an iron anklet called dhagul is 
worn by children to guard them against the evil eye and the attentions 
of bliutas or sprites. The eleventh of the light half is known as the 
Putradd, ehddasi, but has no special importance. On the day of the full 
moon, after bathing in the morning, Hindus retire to some place near 
running water and making a mixture of cow-dung and the earth in which 
the tulsi plant has grown, anoint their bodies ; then they wash themselves, 
change their sacrificial threads and perform the ceremony of Pishi-tarpana 
or worship of the seven Bishis or sages. They then bind rdkhis or brace¬ 
lets of silk or common thread around their wrists and feed and give 
presents to Brahmans. The common name for this festival in Kumaon 
is Upa-7carma, equivalent to the Salauna or PaJcslidbandliana or BdJchiban- 
dhana of other districts. On this day festivals take place at the Sun tem¬ 
ple in Sui-Bisang, Barahi Devi at Devi Dhura and Patuwa in Siii. A 
commercial fair takes place at Devi Dhura on the Sn^di purriimd. 
