Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c25.s1.19

v2.c25.s1.19

What 'Abdur Razzāq failed to notice Paes was careful to observe. The description of the Mahānavami festival as given by the Portuguese chronicler is long and interesting. "You should know that among these heathen there are days when they celebrate their feasts as with us.....When the time of the principal festival arrives the king comes from the new city² to this city of Bisnaga, since it is the capital of the kingdom and it is the custom there to make their feasts and to assemble. For these feasts are summoned all the dancing-women of the kingdom, in order that they should be present; and also the captains and kings and great lords with all their retinues,—except only those whom the king may have sent to make war, or those who are in other parts, or are at the far end of the kingdom on the side where (an attack) is feared, such as the kingdom of Oria, and the territories on the Ydallcao; and even if such captains are absent in such places, there appear for them at the feasts those whom I shall hereafter mention.