Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 25, 1914.djvu/86

 74 ih^ Holi: a Vernal Festival of the Hindus.

for fun.'' He was doused with cold water, ice and snow, and if people did not contribute when he halted at their doors, he used to befoul their garments with mud or a mixture of red ochre and water. Professor E. G. Browne has kindly translated for me another account from the best modern Persian Dictionary: "" Kiisa barnasJiin was the name of a festival amongst the Parsi (Zoroastrians) in Persia, in which on the first of the month Azar they mounted a man with a scanty beard [on a horse, mule, donkey, or the like], anointing his body with 'warm ' drugs, and making him eat ' warm ' food. He held a fan in his hand, with which he fanned himself, complaining of the heat, while the people on all sides pelted him with snow and ice, and gave him something [presumably money], and if anyone refused to give him anything, he used to pour over his [the refuser's] clothes ink or black earth, which he had with him. Thus he used to conduct himself for a certain definite period by permission of the authorities ; but if he exceeded this permission, he was punished. The Parsis held the day in honour and respect, for they say that on this day Jamshid [first] brought pearls out of the sea, and that on this day happiness or misery is allotted to mankind by the predestination of God Most High. And the Arabs call this day Rukab-i-Kusaj [The Scanty- bearded Man's Riding]."

In this connection, it is interesting to note that in Central and Southern India a sort of mystery play is performed to commem.orate the death of Kamadeva, the god of love and fertility. The Kotas, on the first Monday after the January new moon, propitiate Kama-taraya by a feast said to be a continuous scene of licentiousness and debauchery. The observances include the lighting of a fire at a temple, music, dancing, and cadging for presents of grain and butter, which are cooked, offered to the god, and finally shared between the priests and the worshippers. Then follows a burlesque representation of a Toda funeral, in which the part of the