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Celebrating the Feast of Ganesa-India

ரம் (171) embroidered canopy surmounts, is placed while the river is thickly covered with an effigy of the god, made in terra-cotta scores and hundreds of boats, gaily for the occasion, and glittering with equipped with flags. In long skiffs, the gilded and tinsel ornament. A host of prows of which rise sheer out of the white-robed priests and musicians gather water, with bird or quadruped for a round the sacred litter, and the cortège figure-head, the Brahmins and girlthen moves with measured steps towards widows embark with their idols, amid the river, preceded by an advanced guard the shouts of the multitude and the clang of attendants, richly attired, who perform of musical instruments. a slow dance, waving to and fro their colored scarfs.

The aquatic display continues until sunset; but as soon as the golden rim of the These attendants are "young girls who great orb of day sinks below the gleaming have been widowed before becoming horizon, the boats lie-to, and the idols are wives," and have been dedicated by their solemnly cast into the sacred waters. parents to the service of Ganesa, to This, however, is not the termination of prevent their degradation into ordinary the festival; for as the shadows of evendancing girls. Apparently their life is ing close over the city the quays blaze as secluded as was that of a vestal virgin, out with many-colored radiance, coruscatand they dance only in the temple or at ing fireworks ascend in every direction, religious ceremonies. and the course of the river is defined by When the different processions reach long lines of boats ornamented with lanthe terraced river-bank, the scene assumes terns. The Europeans and the wealthy a truly fantastic character. The crowds, Hindus now enter their skiffs and barges, all arrayed in holiday garb, accumulate and, accompanied by dancing girls and on the broad stone steps of the ghats, musicians, proceed to share in the revel, which are soon one motley mass of priests and enjoy the strange fantastic spectacle and girl-widows surrounding their idols; not unworthy of the "Indian Venice."