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BOOTAN, 
derived from the Hindoo mythology; Narrain being no other than the 
favourite god Krishna, the Apollo of the Hindoos, the god of dance and 
music, of pleasure and of sport ; who is complimented by his votaries 
all over India, by that cheerful festival the Hooli ; a joyful season, 
designed to celebrate the arrival of the vernal equinox; as theDussera, 
at the end of summer, is appropriate to the autumnal equinox. 
The festival of the Hooli takes place the first full moon after the 
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sun has passed the vernal equinox, and is calculated to hail the ap¬ 
proach of spring. Its ceremonies consist entirely of the most frolicsome 
and playful sports ; all ranks and ages mix in its celebration; and, 
among other acts, during its continuance, cast at each other handfuls 
of a pulverized scarlet flower, the jubba ( ixora Linncci), and thin 
elastic balls, filled with a liquid coloured by the same plant ; these 
burst on the slightest resistance, and cover the whole dress and person 
of him who is struck by it, with a crimson stain. Nor is it deemed 
disgraceful, on this occasion, to carry the most obvious traces of the 
deepest dye; for when once the barrier of the Zennana f is broken 
down, the sovereign himself sets aside his high despotic character, and 
unbends in frolicsome festivity. Unrestrained liberty of speech and 
repartee prevails; and the females of every family particularly delight 
in giving free indulgence to these romping sports, which are equally 
kept up by the Mahometans and the Hindoos. 
I was once at Muttura, in Bindrabund, in Hindostan, at the season 
in which this festival is held, the vicinity of which place is fabled to 
have been the scene of the descent of Krishna, whom by this comme- 
f Zennana, the apartments of the females. 
