Travels in India (Tavernier) 129.2.6

129.2.6

Having told me to come on the following morning a little before sunrise, I did not fail to be at the same house by that time, where the Raja had caused a pagoda to be built on the left of the entrance. In front of the door there is to be seen, as it were, a gallery sustained by pillars, where many people were already assembled—men, women, and children—awaiting the opening of the door. When the gallery and a part of the court are full of people, eight Brahmins approach, four on each side of the door of the pagoda, each carrying a censer; and there are many other Brahmins who make a great noise with drums and other instruments. The two oldest of the Brahmins chant a canticle, and all the people, after they have intoned it, repeat the same while singing and playing instruments, each one waving a peacock’s tail, or other kind of fan, to drive away the flies; so that when the door of the pagoda is opened the idol may not be inconvenienced by them. All this fanning and music lasted a good half-hour, then the two principal Brahmins began to sound two large bells three times, and, with a kind of small mallet, they then knocked at the door. At the same moment it was opened by six Brahmins, who were inside the pagoda, and 7 or 8 paces from the door an altar was to be seen with an idol upon it, which is called Ram Kam, who is the sister of Morli Ram.