The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Page 57

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

A Picturesque Sight.

“The first part of each procession is very pic-
turesque, as it is made up of Indian musicians on
camels and horses decked out in gay trappings,
gorgeous palanquins, priests in saffron robes, and
attendants carrying bright-colored silk banners,
gold umbrellas, and other emblems of royalty. All
of the display is only the prelude to the real pro-
cession, which, although most sacred to the Hindu
people, is disgusting beyond words. It consists of
a long double file of Digambaris, their naked bodies
smeared with dust, ‘ashes, and sand. Their long,
filthy, matted hair either hangs disheveled about
them or is piled high on their heads in a tangled

Disgusting Idolatry.

“As the procession moves by, the people pros-
trate themselves before these men, who are to them
the most sacred objects of worship; and when the
last Saddhu has passed, the crowd rushes out into
the dust to pick up the dust which has been touched
by the holy feet. They press this dust to their fore-
heads and lips, and some go even so far as to
swallow it.

Mad Frenzy of the Fakirs.

“When the fakirs reach the bathing ghat, they
rush into the river in a mad frenzy, leaping, shout-
ing, and clapping their hands. They then make
their offerings of milk, ghee, flowers, and money

Hindu

mass. On their arms, faces, and chests are painted
the signs of their castes; about their necks are
hanged garlands of faded marigolds and jessamines,
also the rosaries, by which a fakir or a priest can
always be distinguished, as only they are allowed
to wear them. As they stalk along in apparent ob-
livion to all around, they beat their breasts and
shout aloud their monotonous chant of ‘Ram, Ram,
Ganga Ji Ki Jai? — Ram, Ram, victory to Mother
Ganges! They look exactly as though they had just
risen from the dead and with the dust of the earth
clinging to them were passing before the judgment-
seat moaning for mercy. Seeing them thus in their
absolute degradation, it is hard to realize that they
are the embodiment of the ideal toward which all
true Hindus are striving.

Fakirs.

and perform the various ceremonial acts required
for this worship, such as touching the water to their
foreheads, lifting it in their hands toward the sun
as they repeat the formula of praise to Mother
Ganges, sinking under the water a certain number
of times, and finally drinking some of it. We also
saw many of them brushing their teeth with
river mud.

“When the ceremonial bathing is over, the fakirs
dash frantically out of the water and smear them-
selves afresh with dry sand which they have brought
in small bags for this purpose. When all are ready,
the trumpets blare, and they march back to their
quarters, making room for a new section at the
bathing-place. Deadly enmity exists between the
different sects, and to prevent fighting and even