Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/286

278 It is very probable that the annual fair which takes place at Sultanpore in the early part of the month of October is held in commemoration of the arrival of Rugonath; the gods belonging to every village in the valley are bound to present themselves at that place on this occasion, in order to pay him their respects. The attendants of each god and the people from the different villages are said all to live at free quarters during this fair, which lasts a week, their expenses being defrayed out of the various temple lands, which are held on this condition. The whole time is devoted to feasting and dancing; the women, no doubt, have their share of the former, but it is the men only who dance. In 1878, when we were there, the Raja was complaining that latterly some of the minor gods had ceased to pay their yearly visit to Rugonath. The inferior gods are all conveyed to the scene of action in a species of palanquin decorated with gay coloured cloths and streamers, and adorned with flowers ; each is borne along by its respective temple attendants ; some of the palanquins are so small that they are carried by one man, who holds the shrine on his left arm, as one would carry an infant. Rugonath, however, is paraded about in a large car on wheels, which is dragged along by means of an enormous rope grasped by some 200 to 300 men. The last day of the fair is the most exciting one ; the people assemble, gods and all, on a natural plateau of ground of considerable extent situated to the south of the native city. The Raja is present on this occasion, and about two or three p.m. he seats himself in a tent placed in a commanding position on some rising ground, from whence he can overlook the whole scene. Just beneath him is a kind of natural arena of a perfect horse-shoe form, many rows of native women and children cover its sloping sides, the former wear an immense quantity of quaint silver ornaments, and, of course, all are attired in their best and gayest clothes. The whole population, both men and women, wear wreaths of double marigolds round their heads, and as necklaces also. As soon as they have deposited all the palanquins containing the inferior gods on the level space in the centre of and in front of the arena, the men begin dancing round and round their respective palanquins in a slow and regular measure to the