[Illustration: SIVA. SATHADRA. KRISHNA. WORSHIP IN THE TEMPLE OF KRISHNA, OR JUGGERNAUT. The Hawk God, Garounda, is seen in the foreground.] [Illustration: HINDU DEVOTEES DRAGGING JUGGERNAUT’S CAR AND IMMOLATING THEMSELVES.] On the 18th of June Juggernaut’s great festival occurs. Formerly great multitudes assembled at this time from every part of the land. Men, women and children in crowds thronged to the city days in advance, and waited with impatience for the festival day to come. The Car-?? Festival celebrated at Puri is usually attended by more than 500,000 pilgrims, nearly half of whom are females. There is great suffering among these pilgrims, and many of them die in consequence of excessive fatigue, exposure to the annual rains, and the want of suitable and sufficient food. The plains, in many places, are literally whitened with their bones, while dogs and vultures are continually devouring the bodies of the dead. At the appointed time each idol was washed, dressed in silk and gold, and placed upon his triumphal car. The car of Juggernaut consists of an elevated platform, thirty-four feet square, supported by sixteen wheels, each six and a half feet in diameter. It is covered with cloth of gold and costly stuffs, and a Juggernaut is placed under a canopy. Six ropes, or cables, 300 feet in length, are attached to the car, by means of which the people draw it from place to place. The whole car is covered with sculptures in the Hindu style. Thousands seize these ropes, as many as could get hold. In their fanatical frenzy they crowded and shouldered and shoved one another, counting themselves happy if they could only lay a hand on the ropes. The Car-Festival was the great event of the religious year of the worshipers of Juggernaut. Its object was to convey Juggernaut from the temple to his country house, a mile distant. When the image was placed in the car the multitude fell on their knees and bowed their foreheads in the dust. As the car began to advance the drums beat and cymbals clashed, while from its platform the priests shouted, harangued and sang songs, which were received with applause by the multitude. And so the dense mass, tugging, sweating, singing, praying, dragged the car slowly along. Some were knocked down and trampled upon, and some were accidentally crushed by the ponderous wheels, while a few, mostly those who were sick or in much trouble, sought death by throwing themselves in the way of the wheels, this latter being encouraged by some of the priests. The priests and priestesses chanted songs in praise of the gods, the multitudes flung flowers and other gifts about the car. [Illustration: THE IDOL JUGGERNAUT USUALLY CARRIED ON THE CAR.]