Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/368

 22,2 Collectanea.

Barikas (women), who are a sub-division of the Kabbera caste belonging to the Gawrimakkalu section, go round the town or the village in which they live with a basket on their heads containing margosa leaves, flowers of various kinds, and holy ashes. They beg alms, especially of the cultivating classes (Kapus), and in return for the alms bestowed (usually grain and food) they give some of the margosa leaves, flowers and ashes. The Kapus, or cultivators, take the margosa leaves, flowers and ashes to their fields, prepare cholatn katiji, mix these with it and sprinkle this kanji, or gruel, all round their fields. After this, the Kapu proceeds to the potter's kiln in the village or town and fetches ashes from it and makes a figure of a human being. This figure is placed prominently in some convenient spot in the field and is called Jokumara, or rain-god. It is supposed to have the power of bringing down the rain in proper time. The figure is sometimes small and sometimes big. This superstition is in vogue throughout the district, and to a great extent in Sandur State.

A second kind of Jokumara worship is what is called muddam, or the outlining of rude representations of human figures with powdered charcoal. These representations are made in the early morning hours, before the bustle of the day commences, on the ground at cross-roads and along thoroughfares. The Barikas, who draw these figures, are paid a small remuneration in money or in kind. The figure represents Jokumara, who will bring down rain when insulted by people treading on him. Another kind of Jokumara worship also prevails in the district. When rain fails, the Kapu females model a figure of a naked human being of small size. They place this figure in an open mock-palanquin and go from door to door singing indecent songs and collecting alms. They continue this procession for three or four days and then abandon the figure in a field adjacent to the village. The Malas, allied to the Pariahs, then take possession of this abandoned Jokumara, and in turn go singing indecent songs and collecting alms for three or four days and then throw it away in some jungle. This form of Jokumara worship is also believed to bring down plenty of rain.

There is another simple superstition among these Kapu