Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.177

c11.177

In a passage of Strabo³ reference is made to a great festival on the occasion of the hair-washing ceremony of the Indian king when the people brought him costly presents and made a display of their wealth. Certain writers are inclined to think that the Greek geographer got his information from Megasthenes, and that therefore the ceremony pertains to the court of Pāṭaliputra. They further urge that the festival was borrowed from Persia and regard it as a proof of India's indebtedness to Persian culture. It may however be pointed out that Strabo introduces the passage in question with the words "the following statements are made by historians", and makes special mention of Clitarchus⁴. The festival in question might, therefore, have been current even before Chandragupta. At any rate there is little warrant to connect it definitely with the court of Chandragupta at Pāṭaliputra.