Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7Thurston, Edgar
History
Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7
Thurston, Edgar
Caste -- India, South; Ethnology -- India, South; India, South -- Social life and customs; Tribes -- India, South
From an interesting note [115] on agricultural ceremonies in the
Bellary district, the following extract is taken. "On the first
full-moon day in the month of Bhadrapada (September), the agricultural
population celebrate a feast called the Jokumara feast, to appease the
rain-god. The Barikas (women), who are a sub-division of the Kabbera
caste belonging to the Gaurimakkalu section, go round the town or
village in which they live, with a basket on their heads containing
margosa (Melia Azadirachta) leaves, flowers of various kinds, and
holy ashes. They beg alms, especially of the cultivating classes
(Kapus), and, in return for the alms bestowed (usually grain and
food), they give some of the margosa leaves, flowers, and ashes. The
Kapus take these to their fields, prepare cholam (millet: Sorghum)
gruel, mix them with it, and sprinkle the kanji or gruel all round
their fields. After this, the Kapu proceeds to the potter's kiln,
fetches ashes from it, and makes a figure of a human being. This
figure is placed prominently in some convenient spot in the field,
and is called Jokumara or rain-god. It is supposed to have the power of
bringing down the rain in proper time. The figure is sometimes small,
and sometimes big. A second kind of Jokumara worship is called muddam,
or outlining of rude representations of human figures with powdered
charcoal. These representations are made in the early morning, before
the bustle of the day commences, on the ground at crossroads and along
thoroughfares. The Barikas who draw these figures are paid a small
remuneration in money or in kind. The figure represents Jokumara, who
will bring down rain when insulted by people treading on him. Another
kind of Jokumara worship also prevails in this district. When rain
fails, the Kapu females model a figure of a naked human being of
small size. They place this figure in an open mock palanquin, and go
from door to door singing indecent songs, and collecting alms. They
continue this procession for three or four days, and then abandon
the figure in a field adjacent to the village. The Malas then take
possession of this abandoned Jokumara, and in their turn go about
singing indecent songs and collecting alms for three or four days,
and then throw it away in some jungle. This form of Jokumara worship
is also believed to bring down plenty of rain. There is another
simple superstition among these Kapu females. When rain fails,
the Kapu females catch hold of a frog, and tie it alive to a new
winnowing fan made of bamboo. On this fan, leaving the frog visible,
they spread a few margosa leaves, and go singing from door to door
'Lady frog must have her bath. Oh! rain-god, give a little water for
her at least.' This means that the drought has reached such a stage
that there is not even a drop of water for the frogs. When the Kapu
woman sings this song, the woman of the house brings a little water
in a vessel, pours it over the frog which is left on the fan outside
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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