. Pictorial history of China and India; comprising a description of those countries and their inhabitants. the field: but this is probably an exaggerated statement. Hardwar, orGanga Dwara — meaning the gate of the Ganges — is situated at the spotwhere that river issues from the mountains, and is a celebrated place of pil-grimage, besides being the seat of the greatest fair in India. The fair andreligious festival are held together, at the vernal equinox, on which occasionnot less than from two to three thousand persons are assembled ; and everytwelfth year, which is a sort of jubilee, the numb
. Pictorial history of China and India; comprising a description of those countries and their inhabitants. the field: but this is probably an exaggerated statement. Hardwar, orGanga Dwara — meaning the gate of the Ganges — is situated at the spotwhere that river issues from the mountains, and is a celebrated place of pil-grimage, besides being the seat of the greatest fair in India. The fair andreligious festival are held together, at the vernal equinox, on which occasionnot less than from two to three thousand persons are assembled ; and everytwelfth year, which is a sort of jubilee, the numbers are still greater. Thefestivals generally ended in bloodshed, until Bengal was occupied by theBritish, in 1765 ; since which time, measures for preserving peace andgood order have been successfully adopted. There are no people in the world who pay so much attention to the cere-monies of their religion, as the Hindus, nor is there any country whereplaces of worship are so numerous. No sabbath is observed, but holydaysare frequent, and the temples are visited daily and hourly, by persons of both. Landscape and Temple in India. sexes, who carry offerings to the idols, and decorate them with garlands offlowers. The most devout perform their morning devotions on the banksof a lake or river, which is usually furnished with flights of steps, ihat theworshippers may descend to the water, to go through the customary ablu- MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 415 tions which form a part of their religious rites. Parties of Bramins are con-stantly seen repairing to the teinj)les ; while, on every holyday, the roadsand streets are tlironged with religious mendicants, usually distinguished bya dingy orange-colored scarf, or turban ; pilgrims bearing some symbol ofthe god they are going to worship, whose name they repeat aloud to everypasser-by ; processions, with images borne on stages, elevated above theheads of the people, and representations of temples, chariots, and horses,accompanied by drums,
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Keywords: ., bookauthorsearsrob, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookyear1851
