Newly married girls have to perform the worship of Mangala Gauri successively for the first five years on every Tuesday in the month of Shráwan (August), and it is enjoined that they should not speak while taking their meals on that day. Some people do not speak while taking their meals on every Monday of Shráwan, and others make a vow of observing silence and secrecy at their meals every day. All Bráhmans have to remain silent when going to the closet and making water. [808] Certain persons observe silence at their meals during the period of four months (Cháturmás) commencing from the 11th day of the bright half of Ashádha (July) to the 11th day of the bright half of Kártik (November). Certain classes of Hindus observe the penance of secrecy in the additional month that occurs at the lapse of every third year. [809] Silence is essential at the time of performing certain austerities such as Sandhya, worshipping the gods, and the repetition of the Brahma Gáyatri mantra and other such mantras. Secrecy is specially observed when a disciple is initiated by his Guru or spiritual guide with the sacred mantras or incantations. [810] Secrecy and silence are essential when learning the mantras on snakebite, on evil eye and the evil spirit of Vetál. All followers of the Shákta sect must worship the goddess (Durga) very secretly. Silence is also observed by people in welcoming to their homes and worshipping the goddess Párvati or Gauri in the bright half of Bhádrapada every year. [811] At Váde in the Thána District, one day previous to the planting of rice crops the farmer has to go to his field even before day break with five balls of boiled rice, cocoanuts and other things. There he worships the guardian deity of the field and buries the balls of rice underground. He has to do it secretly and has to remain silent during the whole period. He is also forbidden to look behind while going to the field for the purpose. [812] Secrecy and silence are observed when performing the rites of Chetuks and evil spirits or ghosts. Widow remarriages among the lower classes are performed secretly. The pair wishing to be remarried is accompanied by a Bráhman priest and the marriage is performed apart from the house. The priest applies red lead (Kunku) to the forehead of the bride and throws grains of rice over their heads and a stone mortar or páta is touched to the backbone of the bride. The priest then turns his face and walks away silently. [813] The Holi is a religious festival. It is annually celebrated in memory of the death of Kámdev the God of Love who was destroyed by the god Shankar on the full moon day of Fálgun (March). The object of this festival appears to have been a desire to abstain from lust by burning in the Holi fire all vicious thoughts and desires. As a rule, females do not take any part in this festival.