Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c27.s4.9

v2.c27.s4.9

The Dasahra Festival.—On the 1st of Asoj, after fasting, ablution, and prayer on the part of the prince and his household, the double-edged khanda is removed from the hall of arms (ayudhsala), and having received the homage (puja) of the court, it is carried in procession to the Kishanpol (gate of Kishan), where it is delivered to the Raj Jogi,¹ the Mahants, and band of Jogis assembled in front of the temple of Devi ‘the goddess,’ adjoining the portal of Kishan.² By these, the monastic militant adorers of Hara, the god of battle, the brand emblematic of the divinity is placed ³ on the altar before the image of his divine consort. At three in the afternoon the nakkaras, or grand kettledrums, proclaim from the Tripolia ⁴ the signal for the assemblage of the chiefs with their retainers; and the Rana and his cavalcade proceed direct to the stables, when a buffalo is sacrificed in honour of the war-horse. Thence the procession moves to the temple of Devi, where the Raja Krishan (Godi) has proceeded. Upon this, the Rana seats himself close to the Raj Jogi, presents two pieces of [585] silver and a coco-nut, performs homage to the sword (khadga), and returns to the palace.