Page:Between the twilights being studies of Indian women by one of themselves (IA betweentwilights00soraiala).pdf/50



YOUNG unmarried girl is by some in Bengal called Kumari—Princess, and when married, Devi—Goddess.

I was musing on this, and all it told of the feeling of a Nation, and of the true beauty of that feeling at its best, when an old Prime-Minister friend of mine in a Native State came to invite me to a Ceremony.

It is known how I love all things primitive and individual, and my orthodox Hindu friends are very good to me in remembering this. “But of course I will come,” I promised. “What is it this time?”

“The worship of young girls,” said he. There was the idea again, the central idea in all Hindu thought in relation to women. … The worship of the Life-Bringer.

It was very simple, as all such Ceremonies