165
quantity of ganja, and can stand its
effect.
He is of robust constitution,
healthy, of good temper, of lively spi¬
rits, can work very hard, is willing and
obedient, and is always cheerful.
(2) Among lower classes and among jatra-
walas (music party) children of eight
or ten years sometimes learn to smoke
from their fathers and elders, who
themselves smoke ganja. The father
smokes the ganja, and the child gives
one or two pulls when the chillum is
kept aside. Among lower classes (mis-
tri, carpenter, coolie, etc.), father, son,
and grandson smoke tobacco together.
Children learn to smoke tobacco when
very young. Chandra Nath Mistri
of Akna, near Nasirabad, smokes ganja
with his sons.
31. (a) The habit of consuming ganja, bhang,
and charas is easily formed as with other intoxi¬
cants.
(b) It is difficult for habitual consumers to
break off the habit. I have seen people sent to
jail break off the habit after a restraint for some
time. It is very difficult to break off the habit of
smoking ganja and charas, but it is easy to break
off the habit of drinking bhang.
(c) There is no tendency for the moderate habit
to develop into the excessive, but it may, as in
other intoxicants, even in tobacco.
But poor people cannot afford to pay for the
high price, and they cannot, therefore, become
excessive smokers. Even people who can afford
do not smoke excessively for fear of being looked
down.
32. Bhang consumption. Social custom—(1)
Bhang drinking forms part of the social custom
on festive occasions like the last day of the Durga
Puja (Bijoya Dasami) after the idols are thrown
into water (vide answer to question 27 (c) ).
The bhang is smashed with black pepper and
spices, and then mixed with milk, sugar, and
water or cocoanut water, and given to every mem¬
ber of the household by the mistress of the house.
It is also offered to every person who comes to
pay respects or to meet the members of the house.
It is drunk just as "drinking health " in European
society. In Central and Northern Bengal it is
customary for the Hindus to see their friends and
relatives, and embrace them after the Bijoya
Dasami. After this ceremony is over, it is in¬
cumbent on the owner of the house to offer to his
visitors a cup of bhang and sweetmeats as tiffin.
(2) In Mymensingh and in the eastern districts
similar preparation of bhang is drunk on the
Maha Navami (third day of the Durga Puja),
Lakshmi Puja and Sri Panchami Puja. The wild
bhang is smashed and boluses are formed. They
are mixed with milk, sugar, cocoanut-water, and
offered to god Siva on the Navami Puja, Lakshmi
Puja, etc. It is then distributed for drinking.
(3) In the Dacca District everyone (young and
old) drinks bhang before the image of the goddess
Durga on the Navami Puja day. The priest pours
the liquid into the mouth of every one present.
Religious.—I.—Green bhang leaves are fried in
ghi and offered to goddess Saraswati (goddess of
learning).
II.—The green leaves are boiled in milk and
cocoanut pulp and sugar is mixed, and when they
assume a consistent form, laddu is formed. It
is also offered to goddess Saraswati, and afterwards
eaten.
III.—Bhang laddu is invariably offered to god
Siva during Sivaratri, and then eaten in the dis¬
tricts of Jessore, Khulna, and Backergunge. The
laddu is composed of wild bhang, cocoanut pulp,
and gur (cane or date molasses) or sugar.
IV.—To concentrated milk smashed green leaves
of the bhang plant are added. They are made into
small balls and offered to goddess Saraswati. They
are then eaten.
V.—Madan khir is given to every guest or
friend who comes to the house on the occasion of
Sri Panchami. It is offered by the bhadralok to
goddess Saraswati. It consists of smashed wild
bhang, condensed milk, sugar, etc. It is eaten in
the Dacca District, and specially at Dhamrai, near
Sabhar, noted for its car festival.
VI.—Kamdeb Puja or Madan Chaturdashi
Brata (puja in honour of Cupid god). On the
Sukla Chaturdashi of the month of Chaitra or
Baishak, Madan, Kamdeb or Cupid, is worshipped
in East Bengal. A bedi (raised earthen platform)
is made in the centre of the outer yard, and plan¬
tain trees are planted at the four corners of the
platform. Rice powder, gur (cane sugar), and
bhang leaves collected fresh are pounded together
in a dhenki. They are offered to Kamdeb at mid¬
day, and incantations are offered. A handful of
this powder and sweets (generally batasa) are dis¬
tributed to each of the villagers in the afternoon
(before evening). The puja is performed by every
talukdar and respectable high caste people in
villages in the Manikgunge Sub-division. Vil¬
lagers, specially the lower classes, go to the fields
adjoining the village and sing songs in praise of
Madan (Cupid) in the evening. The songs are
generally obscene.
VII.—Satabari is sold in the Dacca District on
the Bijoya Dasami day, when the idols are thrown
into the river. It is sold to spectators and others
who go to see the bhasan. The balls are composed
of rice powder, bhang, and gur.
VIII.—Gorakhanath (Siva, the protector of
cows) is worshiped on the occasion of the deli¬
very of a cow. On the 21st day after the delivery,
the cow is milched, and the milk is boiled and con¬
centrated. It is then mixed with smashed bhang
leaves, and laddu is formed and offered to god
Gorakhanath. Incantations (mantras) are uttered
for about two hours, and the rakhals (cow-keeper
boys) response by saying "Heccho."
After the
puja the balls are distributed to the boys with
sweets, etc. The puja is made before the cowshed.
Laddu is distributed to every person present.
This is done in many Hindu households in East
Bengal. The laddu is known as Gorkhar laddu.
The offering of bhang on the occasion of Durga
Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Saraswati Puja, and Gorakha¬
nath Puja forms an essential part of the religious
ceremonies. The use is temperate. It does not
lead to formation of the habit. Bhang-drinkers
are not socially looked down upon.
Ganja. Social.—(1) There is no social custom
among the bhadralok. The ganja-smokers are
looked down upon by the gentry.
(2) At Lakhipur, Nangalband, and other places
in the Narayangunge Sub-division of the Dacca