RAKTA-BALL blood-offering, a blood sacri fice to an idol. The blood sacrifice of the Hindus and most of the non-Aryan races prevails all over the Peninsula of India, in Mysore, in Hyderabad, in the Carnatic, and Northern Cir cars. It has different names, and is varied ; but whether, as with the Khonds, a human being is sacrificed, or, as with the Pariahs and humbler non - Aryan classes, a buffalo, a bullock, with goats, sheep, kids, or fowls, the rite is identical. The British Government has put down the Kliond human sacrifice, and are discouraging the great sacrifices of cattle which occasionally occur. In 1859, 1400 sheep and 50 or 60 buffaloes were sacri ficed at the village goddess festival of Ellore. The goddess was carried round the village in a car, at each corner was a sharp wooden spike, on each of which a lamb was itnpaled alive, and four sucking pigs in the middle.
Amongst the Mahrattas, it is conducted by the helot races,—Mhair, Mhang, and Parwari, and the Dhangar or shepherd,—and all village function aries attend. A bullock is thrown down before the village deity, its head is struck off by a sing,le blow, and placed in front of the deity, with one fore leg thrust into its mouth. Around it are
vessels containing grain, and nearer is a heap of mixed grains, with a drill plough in the centre. The carcase is then cut into pieces, and each cultivator gets a bit to bury in his field.
The blood and offal are collected into a basket containing cooked food, which has already been offered as a meat-offering to the idol (Nai-vedya), the Pot-raj, or worshipping priest, cuts a live kid to pieces over it, as a Hari 'pariah, or plough sacrifice, and, mixing all together, the basket is placed on the head of a Matig, who runs through the town followed by Pariahs, and as he goes scatters handfuls of it to the spirits (bhut bali).
That is the village offering, but 50-or 60 bul locks and goats my be offered by private persons. Women nude, but covered by leaves and boughs of trees, walk in fulfilment of vows.—W. E. in J.E.S.