Tradition : Principally with Reference to Mythology and the

280 DILUVIAN TRADITIONS IN
"country parts" would incline
us to the contrary belief.] The
men also bathe very carefully,
as if the occasion were very
solemn. Reference is made to
the Rig Veda, i. 23 15-24
(Wilson, i. 57); but in these
verses occur the word?, "waters
take away whatever sin has been
found in me."
" Dripping wet, the women
proceed, without changing their
clothes, to prepare the feast, . . .
new chatties, or earthen vessels
had been purchased for the occasion
; one of them is now taken
and is filled with rice, milk,
sugar, dholghee or clarified butter,
grain, and other substances,
calculated to produce a tasty
dish. The ingathering must
be celebrated with things that
have just been garnered. Usually
Hindoos will not eat new rice,
as it is indigestible" (refer to
Leviticus xxiii. 10-14). Another
incident is that-" The
head of the house approaches the
image (of Ganesa), and performs
puja Then follows a procession
of the young married couples to
propitiate their mothers-in-law.
" . . So a present, the best the
house can provide, is carefully
put together on a tray. It
may be fruit, or brass pots, or
ghee, or whatever else may be
thought most acceptable. Then
a small procession is formed. In
front go three or four men, beating
on tom-toms and blowing
pipes Then follows the gift,