Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s1.76

c7.s1.76

The education of the child received particular attention. He was put to school or rather under a tutor with picturesque ceremonies. At the age of five the Hindu child was placed in the charge of a *Guru* or spiritual preceptor who looked after him until he entered the next stage of life.³ The Muslim tradition was more precise in fixing the day of completion of 4 years, 4 months, and 4 days, for the inauguration of *Bismillah khani* or otherwise the ceremony of putting to school (*maktab*). At an hour fixed in consultation with an astrologer, the child took his first lesson from the teacher.⁴ Usually in the seventh year, a Muslim child was circumcised and the occasion was celebrated with great rejoicings and entertainments, according to the means of a family.⁵ The 1st important ceremony in the life of a Hindu child, if he belonged to the three upper casts of the ‘twice-born’, was that of *Upanayana* or the tying of the triple sacred thread. This was usually performed at the completion of the ninth year and symbolized the passing of childhood.⁶ Both daughter and son were now preparing for the next stage of marriage and entering life. While the son usually welcomed the prospect, it was very depressing for the daughter, for whom the days of freedom were numbered. She therefore made the best of her time by playing with other maidens and enjoying the hospitality of the paternal roof. His or her birthday continued to be celebrated annually by the tying of the picturesque knot in silk, the ceremony of *sal-girah*.¹