ober. At this
time, each person, for himself, makes offerings of boiled rice and other
food, to such of their relations as have died, that they may have a good
meal on that day. They afterwards offer sacrifices of burning lamps, of
fruit, and of flowers, and also new articles of dress, that their
ancestors may be freshly clothed.

At this festival, soldiers offer sacrifices to their weapons, in order
to obtain success in war. On such occasions, a ram is offered in
sacrifice to their armor.

In November, a festival is observed, which is called the feast of lamps.
At this season, the Hindoos light lamps, and place them around the doors
of their houses. This festival was established to commemorate the
deliverance of the earth from a giant, who had been a great scourge to
the people. He was slain by Vrishnoo, after a dreadful battle. In many
places, on this day, a sacrifice is offered to the _dunghill_ which is
afterwards to enrich the ground. In the villages, each one has his own
heap, to which he makes his offering of burning lamps, fruit, flowers,
etc.

The most celebrated of all the festivals, is that which is held in the
end of December. It is called the feast of Pongul, and is a season of
rejoicing for two reasons: the first is, because the month of December,
every day of which is unlucky, is about to end; and the other is,
because it is to be followed by a month, every day of which is
fortunate. For the purpose of preventing the evil effects of this month,
the women every morning scour a place about two feet square before the
door of the house, upon which they draw white lines, with flour. Upon
these they place several little balls of cow-dung, sticking in each a
flower. Each day these little balls, with their flowers, are preserved,
and on the last day of the month, they are thrown into tanks or
waste-places.

The first day of this festival is called the Pongul of rejoicing. Near
relatives are invited to a feast, which passes off with mirth and
gladness.

The second day is called the Pongul of the sun, and is set apart to
worship that luminary. Married women, after bathing themselves, proceed
to boil rice with milk, in the open air. When the milk begins to
simmer, they make a loud cry, "Pongul, O Pongul." The vessel is then
taken from the fire, and set before an idol. Part of this rice is
offered to the image, and, after standing there for some time, it is
given to the cows. The remainder is given to the peop