Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c6.s5.43

c6.s5.43

Besides the various sports and amusements that enlivened the daily life of the people, there were frequent high days and holidays when they made merry with their friends and companions. On these festival days (*chaṇam*: *ussavo*) which were proclaimed by beat of drum, there was great noise of sound and music of those that made merry.¹ The village-drummers and conch-blowers rejoiced to go to the towns, and made money by their art.² On these days even the farmers hang up their ploughs and joined in the festivities.³ Even the poor-folk wore new clothes, went on with their wives hanging on their shoulders, and enjoyed with garlands, perfumes and drinks.⁴ The most popular among these festivals was the *Kattikā* festival which was celebrated on the night of the Full Moon day of the month of *Kattikā* (*Kārtikī pūrṇimā*), when the king went in a solemn procession round the city.⁵ Equally celebrated was the Full Moon day of the month of *Aśvina* (*Cātumāsini Komudi*) when the sky is beautifully clear and the orb of the full moon of the last month of the rains shines in all splendour.⁶ This *Śarad Pūrṇimā* or *Kaumudī-Jāgara* is still the most favoured of the festivals, both among the simple folk and the cultured classes, in which the whole night is passed without sleep by playing at dice or similar other amusements. There were presumably many other festivals on the changes of the planets and of seasons (*nakkhatte*: *utu-pubbesu*).⁷ On these and specially on the drinking festivals (*surānakkhatam*: *surāchaṇo*), people ate and drank strong drinks to their hearts' content. Besides the taverns (*surāpaṇa*), special drinking booths (*maṇḍapam*) were put up on these days. People believed this drinking as time-honoured festival.⁸