1884.] 
of Religion in the Himalaya. 
51 
scription of the rites and ceremonies to be observed dnring Karttik. “ In 
this month whatever gifts are made, whatever observances are practised, if 
they be in honour of Vishnu, are sure of obtaining the end desired and re¬ 
alizing an imperishable reward.” The first day of the light half is devoted 
to the memory of the Daitya Raja Bali who was subdued by Vishnu in his 
dwarf incarnation and to Krishna or Kanhaiya as Gobardhan. When Bali 
was sent to Patala, he was allowed as a boon to have this day held sacred 
in his honour. The door-step is smeared with cow-dung and the images of 
Bali and his family are rudely drawn thereon and receive domestic wor¬ 
ship. The second is known as the Yama-dwitiyd when Yama came down 
to visit his sister Yamuna and she received the boon that all brothers who 
visited sisters on that day and interchanged presents should escape hell. 
On the eighth a commercial fair is held at Askot. The ninth is known 
as the Kushmdnda-navami when pumpkins are offered to Devi, and on the 
eleventh called the Hari-hodhinf the waking of Vishnu from his periodical 
slumbers, is celebrated. The fourteenth is known as the Vaikuntha- 
cliaturdaU, for he who dies on this day goes straight to the paradise of 
Vishnu. Noted festivals are held on the Vaikuntha fourteenth at Kama- 
leswara in Srinagar and Malik Arjun in Askot. The day of the light half 
or imrnimd is like the purnimd of Baisakh, a great day for bathing, 
and special assemblies are then held at the temples of Pinakeswara, 
Gananatha, Siteswara, Vasuki Raja and Nagadeva Padamgir. 
Many sir. —The eleventh of the dark half of Mangsir is known as the 
Utpatti-ekddan, but is not particularly observed. The eleventh of the 
light half is called the Moksha-ekddasi and has some local celebrity. The 
twelfth or Bdrdhi dwddasi is so called in remembrance of Vishnu’s boar 
incarnation. The day of the full moon has no peculiar observance attach¬ 
ed to it. The only other festivals during this month are those held at 
the harvest feasts. No important agricultural operation takes place with¬ 
out the intervention of some religious observance. An astrologer is called 
in who fixes the auspicious day, generally with reference to the initial 
letter of the name of the owner of the field, but if this does not suit, his 
brother or some near relation whose name is more convenient for the 
purpose takes the owner’s place in the ceremony. Tuesdays and Satur¬ 
days are generally considered unlucky days. On the day fixed for the 
commencement of ploughing the ceremonies known as kudkhyo and 
halkhyo take place. The kudkhyo takes place in the morning or evening 
and begins by lighting a lamp before the household deity and offering 
rice, flowers and balls made of turmeric, borax and lemon-juice called 
pity a. The conch is then sounded and the owner of the field or relative 
whose lucky day it is takes three or four pounds of seed from a basin and 
carries it to the edge of the field prepared for its receptio]i. He then 
