[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Histoire de la dernière révolution des États du Grand Mogol](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier) › [Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable) › 6.1.4 # Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 6.1.4 Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 6.1.4 - **Language:** English ### [6.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.4) after which they stood in the river, lifted their eyes and hands toward the sun, muttered and prayed with seeming devotion, filling their hands from time to time with water, which they threw in the direction of the sun, bowing their heads very low, and moving and turning their arms and hands, sometimes one way, sometimes another. The deluded people continue to plunge, mutter, pray, and perform their silly tricks until the end of the eclipse. On retiring they threw pieces of silver at a great distance into the Gemna, and gave alms to the Brahmens, who failed not to be present at this absurd ceremony. I remarked that every individual on coming out of the water put on new clothes placed on the sand for that purpose, and that several of the most devout left their old garments as presents for the Brahmens. In this manner did I observe from the roof of my house the solemnisation of the grand eclipse-festival, a festival which was kept with the same external observances in the Indus, in the Ganges, and in the other rivers and Talahs (or tanks of the Indies), but above all in that one at Tanaiser, which contained on that occasion more than one hundred and fifty thousand persons, assembled from all parts of the empire; its waters being considered on the day of an eclipse more holy and meritorious than those of any other. - [Previous: 6.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.3) - [Next: 6.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.5) - [Up: 6.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.bernier~en-constable.6.1.4) · Pramāṇa