Page:Malabari, Behramji M. - Gujarat and the Gujaratis (1882).djvu/298

282 call "the venerable departed worthies." This is the origin: Muktád is of Pagan growth, not belonging to Zoroastrianism "pure and simple." Zoroastrians in Iran, over twelve hundred years ago, had between five and ten days set apart every year "for prayers and fasting," as expiation for their own sins, and more as offerings for "repose of the souls" of their relatives. But all this is changed in India. The praying is changed into gambling, and the fasting into feasting. The simple ceremonial sank into a gross and debasing pagan rite.

Twenty years ago (the Parsis have since improved) this was the explanation of the Doslá holidays. Those of our departed relatives who had been "good boys" on earth, and therefore admitted to Heaven, were allowed every year a long holiday for eighteen days to return to earth and live with their earthly friends. There are proofs positive of these "spirits" having visited our grandmothers and mothers-in-law (in their dreams, of course), and telling them what good things of earth they would like to have for their creature comforts during their holiday sojourn "here below." Their wants were often unconfined. But generally they consisted of the