History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c41.s21.1

v3.c41.s21.1

We go on to describe the festival days mentioned by Al-Beruni (chap. LXXVI). "The second of Chaitra is a great festival day in Kashmir in honour of victory of its king over the Turks." This probably refers to the victory of Lalitāditya the conqueror of Hindustan over the Turks described in Vol. I (p. 211) as a memorable one "since this was a singular exploit of Lalitāditya deserving a prominent record in this history of Mediæval India." "The 11th of Chaitra was the Hindola festival of Vāsudeva and 15th of Chaitra was festival for women called Vasanta festival. Both these are not known to us. The 3rd of Vaiśākha was Gaurī Tritīyā. "On the 10th of Vaisakha Brahmins go out at the king's command and sacrifice for four days." This is a thing unknown to us and it is a festival which we have not been able to trace in Hindu treatises. The vernal equinox festival is peculiar to the Panjab and still observed there, being called Vaiśākhi. "Jyeshtha Śuddha 15 is a festival day for women." "All Āshādha days are festival days and on Sāvana 15 alms are given to Brahmins." "On Āśvina Mahānavamī sugarcane juice is poured for Bhavānī and kids are also killed." "The 15th of Āśvina is dedicated to animals and they wrestle with one another." The Bhādrapada Pitripaksha is also mentioned, especially the day when the moon is in Maghā." (This should have been called Āśvina Vadya according to Pūrṇimānta months). "The 3rd Bhādrapada is observed by women who grow seeds in baskets and worship Devī at night." "The 1st of Kārtika is Dīwalī day when Balirāja is liberated for one day by Lakshmī". "The 3rd of Mārgaśīrsha is a festival day for women. The 3rd of Māgha is a sacred day to women and is a festival day for them; women bathe in cold water the whole month." "The full moon day of Phālgun is the Dolā feast for women; they make fires in villages." "The 16th of Phālgun they call Śivarātri day and worship Mahādeva and remain awake the whole night." This is a correct description of Śivarātri except for the number, which ought to be 14th. "In Multan there is a special festival of the sun and it is called Sāmbapariyātra." We recognise in the above many festivals which are still observed which therefore are certainly as Al-Beruni (1030 A. D.).