Folk Lore Notes. Vol. II—KonkanJackson, A. M. T. (Arthur Mason Tippetts)
Religion
Folk Lore Notes. Vol. II—Konkan
Jackson, A. M. T. (Arthur Mason Tippetts)
Folklore -- India
At Vavanje in the Panwel taluka of the Kolába District, offerings
of coins, etc., to sacred trees are made at the time of Parwani
(a festival). For instance, when the no moon day falls on Monday,
the women worship the Pipal tree, and on the full moon day of Jestha
(June) they worship the Banyan tree. The custom prevails of the worship
of a well by women after their delivery. A woman, after completing
the period of her confinement or ceremonial impurity, is taken to
a well, from which she has to bring home water, and is required to
worship the well with the following materials, viz.:--cotton thread,
copper coins, cocoanuts and such other fruit as can be had on the
occasion. [389] At Varsai in the Pen taluka of the Kolába District,
offerings of cotton cloth, copper coins, cocoanuts, betelnuts and
plantains are made to the Banyan, Pipal, and Umbar trees, and also to
holy wells. The Pipal, Tulsi, and Umbar trees are worshipped daily
by women in this district, while the Banyan is worshipped on the
full moon day of Jestha (June). The materials of worship are:--rice,
fruits, water, sandalpaste, flowers, mangoes and jack fruits. [390]
At Málád in the Thána District, the Banyan tree is worshipped by
women of the Dwijas, i.e., of the twice born castes, on the full
moon day of the month of Jestha. Copper or silver coins and fruit
are offered to the tree. These offerings are taken by the Bráhman
priest, who explains to them the modes of worship. The Bráhman
priest is also given some money as a gift. This Vrata, i.e., vow,
is observed by women by fasting for three successive days, from
the 13th to the 15th day of the bright half of Jestha (June). The
Pipal tree is worshipped daily by some men and women of the Bráhman
caste. Women walk round this tree for a hundred and eight times or
more daily. Some persons hold a thread ceremony for the Pipal tree in
order to obtain a son, and worship the tree for a certain period. It
is worshipped with fruit and copper coins. Wooden cradles are also
offered to the tree. Wells are worshipped on auspicious days such as
Parwani by women of the upper castes. [391] At Padghe in the Thána
District the Banyan tree is worshipped on the full moon day of Jestha,
and the Pipal is worshipped every Saturday in the month of Shráwan
(August). The Pipal tree is not worshipped before the performance of
its thread ceremony, and its thread ceremony is not performed till
the tree bears at least one thousand leaves. [392]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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