The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.317

v2.c17.s1.317

It is scarcely likely that those who calumniate Jagannâtha will change front and dropping the charge of direct participation accuse the lord of Puri of abetment, of disseminating a religion which promotes or leads to self-immolation. Such a charge if tolerated would lead to the stoppage of even the most innocent amusements of the people in every part of the world and suggest the propriety of closing the River Thames, in the bed of which many a person expiates his or her pecuniary difficulties. Every form of religion—every festival which recognises public processions—abets the offence in some form or other. A car festival which was common in Sicily twenty years ago—and for aught we know still prevails—does this in a manner positively reprehensible. While at Puri grown up people labouring under incurable and excessively painful diseases, such as colic and leprosy, attempt to terminate their sufferings by falling under the sacred car, in Sicily innocent babes are exposed to suffering and death for the mere purpose of decoration and scenic effect. Madame Henrietta Caraciolo, on whose authority we make the statement, thus describes the Feast of Assumption as annually celebrated on August 15 and of which a car procession forms the most prominent part :