Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/329

Rh has been drawn by the government between the two divisions of Conjeveram, of which one is known as Siva-Conjee, the other as Vishnu-Conjee. As the rival sects may not settle their disputes by blows, they take delight in insulting and ridiculing the claims of the opposing god and his worshippers. On the night preceding the great car-drawing, the Vishnuvites mount their idol on a great gilt elephant, and drawing it to the line of separation, turn its tail toward the temple of Siva, and with shouts and gestures of insult, run it backward to the line. The affair ends bloodlessly, however, with abuse and insult, and, it may be, some pulling of hair and brandishing of fists.

At a certain season, the incarnations of Vishnu, ten in number, are celebrated for ten successive days. Each day his image is exhibited to the public, or is borne in procession through the streets. The idol, adorned with jewels and rich clothes, is seated on a platform surrounded by his priests, and the platform borne in triumphal procession through the wide streets. It is preceded and followed by devotees on foot, drummers astride of bullocks, elephants, dancing-girls, torch-bearers, fireworks, and men in various disguises. Others, to excite com-