Page:Hindu Feasts Fasts and Ceremonies.djvu/132

116 their year is thus the sidereal year. The Telugus and the Canarese follow the Chandramana reckoning, and their year is the lunisolar, which begins earlier than the 12th April. The Malayalis follow the Tamils, though their Kollamandu—which is more an agricultural year—begins about the middle of September, when the sun enters the autumnal equinox.

On the New Year Day the elderly people—males and females—take a sacred bath in the holy rivers or the sea, whichever happens to be nearest. The males propitiate the Manes and the deities; children appear in their holiday dress and jewels. The nearest temple is attended and the god in it is worshipped. In some families children and other members receive new cloths. A sumptuous meal is cooked in every house and poor relations are always cordially invited to the feast. At evening time the Panchanga or the Calendar of the New Year is read out and expounded by a holy Brahman. Several people assemble to listen to this exposition. At the end of this ceremony, attar, pan supari, and dessert are distributed. Sometimes a short entertainment of music is also added to this ceremony. The