Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/252

212 Sex metamorphosis.—Recently a Burmese girl, on waking one morning, found herself to be a man. Her family were congratulated on the event, which is attributed "to the great power exercised by some of the innumerable good deeds performed in previous existences." (Hindoo Patriot, May 26, 1908.)

Disposal of the teeth.—At the Ardhodoy festival held near Calcutta in February it is the custom to fling into the Ganges any teeth which may have fallen out during the previous year; servants are often seen following their masters with parcels containing such teeth. They are carefully preserved and disposed of in this way in order to give the owner immunity from toothache and gum-boils in the next world. (Times of India, Feb. 10, 1908.)

Scapegoat.—"Another rite is worthy of mention. The Sastras [Hindu scriptures] state that all men should not bathe during the Ardhodoy; but one should be kept unwashed in order that he may bear the burden of the sins of all other who become free from it after a bath. The man who consents to go unwashed sacrifices a great deal, and though he is poohpoohed by others, he nevertheless attains a different kind of peace after death." (Ibid.)

Annual mock hunt and ceremonial bathing of the gods.—The ninth and tenth days of the Utsavam feast at Travancore are specially important. On the ninth the Mahárája, accompanied by all the Hindu officials, attends the mock hunt. To represent a forest several shrubs are planted near the palace, and amidst them coco-nuts are placed to represent animals. The Mahárája, as deputy of the state deity, Padmanábha, a form of Vishnu, approaches the place in silence and discharges a number of arrows at the coco-nuts. A procession with music is then formed, and he returns to the temple.

On the next day the Árti or purificatory rite is performed. The images of the gods are decorated, placed in chairs of gold and silver, and carried to the sea-beach to be bathed. On arriving there they are conveyed to a stone platform and bathed in the sea, the Mahárája bathing with them, and then conveying them back to the temple. (Madras Times, April 15,