The ceremonial calendar of fasts and festivals is an important matter to every Hindu. Religious obser vances of greater or less importance are constantly occurring. These are entered against their respective dates in the calendar, and in some versions short accounts are given of the most important of them. Of New Year's Day, we are told that in the morn ing a Hindu rubs his body with scented oil, and then bathes with warm water. Flags are raised on poles by each family to represent the banner of lndra, king of the gods. The leaves of the bitter nim tree are eaten, which secures health to the body. The almanac for the New Year is worshipped, and its predictions for the year are heard from one versed in astronomy and astrology, who is remunerated handsomely. The Brahmans also receive liberal gifts from the people. Gifts or feasts to Brahmans are universal on all festivals, and it is impressed upon the celebrants that with out these the observance is ineffectual. On the 3d Vaisakha sudi (24th April) earthen water-pots and fans are given to Brahmans for the coming summer season, that the pitri or manes of deceased ancestors may fee] comfortable during this season in the heavens.' On the 15th Jyaishtha sudi, women fast and go to worship at the foot of the Indian fig-tree to preserve them from widowhood.' On the last day of Asarha badi, all the lamps in the house are washed, cleaned, and placed in a row, and offerings of incense and flowers are made to them. Sweetmeats are prepared in honour of the lamps, and are eaten by the whole household.' The 5th Srawan sudi is held sacred to the serpent gods. Ceremonies are performed on this day to ensure against the bites of snakes.' On the last day of the same month, the 64 Yogini, or female attendants of the goddess Durga, are worshipped, particularly by women, with the hope of obtaining issue.' The 10th Aswin sudi, at the autumnal equinox, is the Dasahra, the victorious tenth,' in honour of the victory of Durga over a monstrous demon. This is a great holiday, lasting ten days ; but it is only the last of the ten days that is properly called Dasahra. The image of thegoddess is worshipped with various observ ances throughout the ten days, and on the last day it is borne with ceremony and thrown into the water. The 13th of the sudi or light half of the same month is the Dewali or Dipawali, a great festival in honour of Kali, another form of the goddess Durga. This is the great feast of illumination, during which houses are cleaned, whitewashed, and illuminated.' Fireworks are displayed, and playing with dice is the chief recreation of the well-to-do people.' The Makara-sankranti is a solar festival, held in honour of the sun, on the day his entranco into Capricorn. The Holi, also, or Ting festival, is held in Phalguna, the last month the year, in honour of Krishna, but is essentially spring festival. Many of its observances have •erence to that season, and sonic of them find their counterparts in other regions of the world. This feast lasts fifteen days, and resembles the Roman Saturnalia or the modern Carnival. People throw red powder at each other, and females are saluted with very impure exclamations and jests. On the day of full moon a pile is lighted before every house and in puts of the city, and cakes and cocoanuts are offered. In Bengal, Madras, and other parts, swinging was a great feature iu this festival, but it has been prohibited by the British Government.
A third portion of the almanac is the astro logical, and by no means the least important in the eyes of the great mass of Hindus. Lucky and unlucky days and seasons, and the influence of the planets and astronomical phenomena, are to the Hindu settled articles of belief which are beyond question. No matter of importance can be entered upon without consulting the Brahmans, and the Brahmans consult the Panchanga. There
is merit even in referring to the almanac ; and those who on New Year's Day hear what are the celestial influences of the year, thrive well iu this world, free from sickness, calamity, or poverty, and become possessed of stores of corn and treasure. From the tithi a man derives good and weal ; from the days of the week, long life ; from the nakshatras, liberation from sin ; from the yoga, liberation from disease ; from the karanas, success in a desired work. There is a table of auspicious days for the investiture of Brahmans with the sacred thread, and another table of auspicious days for marriages. Hindus must of course be aware that they often fail in obtain ing the good things promised upon astrological authority, but none would venture to brave the dangers of unlucky days and inauspicious con junctions. They may be disappointed by the past, but they cannot venture to challenge the future. Another table enables a person to calcu late his luck for the year, by the sign of the zodiac the moon was in at his birth. Absurd as all these are, they are not set down at haphazard, but are the results of certain rules and calculations. The influence of the planets during a recent year was thus predicted :—' The sun will be king. The minister is Mars. The lord of the first harvest is Jupiter. The lord of the clouds is the moon. The lord of the waters is Saturn. The lord of the last harvest, Mercury. When the sun is king, there is destruction to corn, flowers, fruits, and roots ; fear from robbers ; no water ; disagree ments among the rulers of the world, and disease to the inhabitants. When Mars is prime minister, there will be scarcity of rain, destruction to corn, fear from fire and robbers, pain from diseases, and the rulers of the land will fight against each other.'. Happily for the world, and happily also for astrology, there are countervailing influences. When Jupiter is lord of the first harvest, the indication is that there will be plenty of rain, corn, water, wealth, and fruit, and gladness among the people ; and under the influence of the moon, the lord of the clouds, there will be plenty of corn, flowers, and fruits ; the learned will be happy, and the rivers and wells will overflow with ' water. Among the ninny other portents of the year, there is one which foretells success to robbers, nlipostors, and wicked people ; another foretells victories to kings with small armies over those with large ones. One most desirable portent indicates moderation in all things, and another happiness to all mankind, and plenty of corn and fruit. Some of the portents are very incongruous and amusing in their association of things. One indicates destruction to potentates, /41101, and earthen-pot makers ; another bodes ill to black beetles, but happiness to the worshippers of Siva.
Such is the mixture of wisdom and folly pre sented by a Hindu almanac. The science which Hindus display in the preparation of their ephemeris is worthy of admiration, and the care they take in fixing the proper times for their religious festivals is deserving of all respect. Such things, in Great Britain, are not dead even now. Old Moore still flourishes; time Vox Stellarum, as declared by him, is yet listened to. Zadkiel is not yet defunct ; and more than one low-class publication puts forth pretended astrological predictions. Even among educated people are to be found some who have faith in astrology. If astrology has been able to maintain a precarious stand against the overpowering attacks of western science, what expectation or hope can there be of its extinction in India? There it has for ages mingled with every insui's daily and religious life, and will last as long as, and probably even survive, the religion with which it is associated.