The rite of Rishi-Panchami is performed on the 5th day of the bright-half of Bhádrapad to make amends for sins committed without knowledge. On this day women go to a river, a well, or some other sacred place, cleanse their teeth with the leaves of the Agháda plant, and take baths with something on the head. They then take some stones from that place and worship them as Rishis. On the conclusion of the worship, they partake of fruits. On the Vrata-Sávitri day women worship a banyan tree or its boughs. The ceremony falls on the 15th day of the bright half of Jyeshtha. [233] On the Haritálika day, i.e., the 3rd day of the bright half of Bhádrapad, women make images of earth of Párvati and her two friends and worship them and fast the whole day. The observance of this rite contributes to their good fortune. Even girls of tender years observe this fast. The worship of Mangalá-Gauri is a ceremony performed by married girls for five successive years on every Tuesday of the month of Shrávan. Similarly, the goddess Mahálakshmi is worshipped on the 8th day of the bright half of Ashvin. On the Makar Sankránt day women worship a sugad [234] and present it to a Bráhman. [235] The Shiva-mutha consists of a handful of corn offered to the god Shiva by married girls on every Monday in the month of Shrávan. [236] The worship of Shadananda and the Holika Devi and the ceremonies of Shrávani, Shráddha and Antyesti are performed by men alone. [237] In some families of non-Bráhmans on a particular day, especially on the full-moon day of Ashvin, the host and the hostess put off their clothes and perform certain family rites. [238] The women of the Thána District fast the whole day on the 12th day of the dark half of Ashvin. At night they worship a cow, give in charity a calf, and then take their meal. It is to be noted that this ceremony called the Vasu-dwádasi is performed by women who have children. On the Haritálika day some women live on the leaves of a Rui tree. [239] On the Somavati-Amávásya day women worship a Pipal tree and offer it a hundred and eight things of one kind. [240] Women desirous of having a son perform a certain rite at midnight, without clothing. [241] If one wishes to have a son, one has to go through a ceremony called the Hanumán in a naked state. [242] The god Kálbhairav is worshipped by a naked person on the Narka-Chathurdasi day (14th day of the dark half of Ashvin). Those learning the dark lore, e.g., muth márane, are also required to remain naked while studying it. They learn this lore on an eclipse day on the bank of a river. [243] The rite called Somaya is performed by the host when his clothes are off his body. On a certain Monday in the month of Shrávan a lamp of wheat flour is prepared and burned by adding ghi. This lamp is regarded as a deity, and is worshipped solemnly. During the performance of this ceremony as well as the preparation of the requisite food, the host and the hostess are required to remain naked. [244]