The sagacity of the elephant is well known, and it is presumed that the elephant-idol is worshiped for this reason, just as the serpent is worshiped as the symbol of cunning, or the sun as the symbol of power. As of almost all the other gods, Ganesha has his festivals, when the people come together in great crowds to do him honor. At one of these annual festivals they bring forth the god Ganesha, place him in a boat, and accompanied with other boats containing priests and musicians, they row up and down the Ganges. The great crowds of people lining the shore fill the air with their shouts and songs, and the occasion is one of exuberant joy. PAGODAS. Scattered about the large temple inclosures are great pagodas or towers. These contained the rooms of the priests and servants of the temple. Sometimes they served simply as gate-ways, at other times they were used as houses for the idols. Rising high above the surrounding country, everywhere they could be seen by the people, and thus their devotion to their idolatrous worship was increased. The priests sought by the use of every possible means to fix the people’s faith in their idols; like Demetrius, whose business of making shrines in Ephesus was spoiled by Paul’s preaching, these priests do not wish to lose their hold upon the people, because thus their means of support would be destroyed. But, notwithstanding all their efforts, they cannot hold the people in their bondage, and each year witnesses more and more refusing to listen to them. None of these great pagodas are new. For very many years they have towered above the dwellings of the people in their majestic grandeur; when they fall into decay they are not replaced. Many of these pagodas are several hundreds of feet high, and are covered with sculptures representing scenes in the lives of the gods of the temple, or of eminent saints. [Illustration: GATEWAY OF MADURA TEMPLE.] Another famous pagoda is at Pondicherry, in Southern India. The gate-way to this temple is most intricately carved. The heathen aim to set forth in a durable way, as by these sculptures, the parts of their worship. They depend largely upon the sight for instructing the people in their faith, rather than upon their hearing, preaching, or reading sacred books. [Illustration: PAGODA OF PONDICHERRY, FAMED FOR ITS SCULPTURE.] The interiors as well as the exteriors of these temples are covered with sculptures. The service is in nowise like that in Christian churches. The people come and go as they please. They beat the drums to call the attention of the gods to the prayers they are about to offer, rub their hands together as they mumble over some prayers, leave their offerings before the idol of stone or wood, and go away believing that dangers will be averted, or that good fortune will come to them.