1884.] 
61 
of Religion in the Himalaya. 
vals. Most of tlie Bhairava temples in Grarhwal and even such as 
Narmadeswara, Vriddlia Kedara and Narayana have special assemblies on 
every sanhrdnta tlironghont the year, whilst others hold special services 
only on particular sanhrdntas^ such as the Bikh, Mekh and Makar. 
Generally the festivals of the village deities as well as all civil duties 
and engagements are regulated by the calendar for the solar year. 
Mm sanhrdnta. —The Min or Chait sanhrdnta is not generally 
observed; but on the following day, girls under nine years of age and boys 
who have not yet been invested with the sacrificial thread (janeo) visit 
their relations, to whom they offer flowers and smear rice coloured with 
turmeric (haldu) on the threshhold of their doors : hence the name Hal. 
duwd sanhrdnta. In return, the children receive food and clothing. The 
low castes Hurkiya and Dholi, the dancers and musicians of the hills, 
also, go about from village to village during the whole of this month 
singing and dancing and receive in return presents of clothes, food and 
money. 
Bihli sanhrdnta. —The Mehli or BaisdhJi sanhrdnta is also called the 
Vishapadi, Bihhpadi, Vijoti, Vihlioti or Bihh sanhrdnta. On this day, an 
iron rod is heated and applied to the navels of children in order to drive 
out the poison (Jjihli) caused by windy colic and hence the local name 
Bihlb sanhrdnta. It is a great day of rejoicing for both Shivas and Vaish- 
navas and fairs are held at the shrines of Uma at Karnaprayag, Siteswara 
in Kota, Tunganatha, Budranatha, Gauri, Jwalapa, Kali, Chandika, &c., as 
well as at Badrinath, Yishnuprayag, Dhyanbadri and the temples of Kara- 
yana and Kama. Most of the more important temples have special services 
on the Bihh and Mahar sanhrdntas. The latter represents the old compu¬ 
tation by which the entrance of the sun into the sign of Capricorn was 
considered the commencement of the new year and the former the new 
system by which the entrance of the sun into the sign Mesha or Aries 
begins the new year : hence both days are held sacred throughout both 
districts. I have not noticed that any special festival is held on the 
Brisk or Jeth sanhrdnta or on the Mithun or Asarh sanhrdnta except one, 
on the latter date, at the Kailas hill above Bhim Tal, though, as already 
noted, there are numerous temples where services are held on every san¬ 
hrdnta throughout the year. 
Karh sanhrdnta. Bagwdli. —The Karh sanhrdnta is known also as the 
Harela, Hariydlo or Harydo sanhrdnta from the following custom :—On 
the 24th Asarh, the cultivators sow barley, maize, pulse {galiat) or mus¬ 
tard (laV) in a basket of earth and on the last day of the month, they 
place amidst the new sprouts small clay images of Mahadeva and Parvati 
and worship them in remembrance of the marriage of those deities. On 
the following day or the Karh sanhrdnta, they cut down the green stems 
