DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.640#0168
THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY. 61
On a Sunday, at the rising of the suri, in any month, hut
especially in the month Maghii, a number of persons,
chiefly women, perform the worship of Sooryix: I shall
give an account of this worship in the words of a respected
friend.—'The sun is annually worshipped on the first Sun-
day in the month Maghii. The name of this worship is
called Dhurmu-bhaoo, or Sooryii-bhaoo. The ceremonies
vary in different places, but in this district the women ap-
pear to be the principal actors ; though none are excluded,
and even Musulmans are so far Hindpoized as to join in the
idolatry. I saw it once thus conducted:—at the dawn of
the morning a great number of offerings were carried into
the open field, and placed in a row. The offerings con-
sisted of fruits, sweetmeats, pigeons, and kids. A small pot
was placed by each person's offering, containing about a
pint and a half of water. A device made of a water-plant,
a species of Millingtonia, intended to represent the sun,
was placed on the edge of the pot, and a small twig of the
mango-tree, with a few leaves on it, put into it, as people
in England keep flowers. The pot with all its appendages
represented the sun perhaps as the vivifier of nature. By
each offering also was placed (what shall I call it ?) an in-
cense-altar, or censer called dhoonachee. It resembled a.
ehafing-dish, made of copper, and stood upon a pedestal
about a foot long. It contained coals of fire, and a kind of
incense from time to time was thrown into it, principally the
pitch of the salu-tree, called dhoona. Near each offering
was placed a lamp, whieh was kept burning all day. The
women also took their stations near the offerings. At
sun-rise they walked four times round the whole row of
offerings, with the right hand towards them, and the smok-
ing dhoonachees placed on their heads; after whieh they re-
sumed their stations again, where they continued in an erect
posture, fasting the whole day, occasionally throwing
H 2
On a Sunday, at the rising of the suri, in any month, hut
especially in the month Maghii, a number of persons,
chiefly women, perform the worship of Sooryix: I shall
give an account of this worship in the words of a respected
friend.—'The sun is annually worshipped on the first Sun-
day in the month Maghii. The name of this worship is
called Dhurmu-bhaoo, or Sooryii-bhaoo. The ceremonies
vary in different places, but in this district the women ap-
pear to be the principal actors ; though none are excluded,
and even Musulmans are so far Hindpoized as to join in the
idolatry. I saw it once thus conducted:—at the dawn of
the morning a great number of offerings were carried into
the open field, and placed in a row. The offerings con-
sisted of fruits, sweetmeats, pigeons, and kids. A small pot
was placed by each person's offering, containing about a
pint and a half of water. A device made of a water-plant,
a species of Millingtonia, intended to represent the sun,
was placed on the edge of the pot, and a small twig of the
mango-tree, with a few leaves on it, put into it, as people
in England keep flowers. The pot with all its appendages
represented the sun perhaps as the vivifier of nature. By
each offering also was placed (what shall I call it ?) an in-
cense-altar, or censer called dhoonachee. It resembled a.
ehafing-dish, made of copper, and stood upon a pedestal
about a foot long. It contained coals of fire, and a kind of
incense from time to time was thrown into it, principally the
pitch of the salu-tree, called dhoona. Near each offering
was placed a lamp, whieh was kept burning all day. The
women also took their stations near the offerings. At
sun-rise they walked four times round the whole row of
offerings, with the right hand towards them, and the smok-
ing dhoonachees placed on their heads; after whieh they re-
sumed their stations again, where they continued in an erect
posture, fasting the whole day, occasionally throwing
H 2