CH. IX.] REPORT OF THE INDIAN HEMP DRUGS COMMISSION, 1893-94. 163
of old Sikh times, is annually permitted to collect without interference a boat load
of bhang, which is afterwards distributed throughout the year to the sadhus
and beggars who are supported by the dharamsala.
Central Provinces.
441. The evidence as to social or religious customs in the Central Provinces
is somewhat discrepant, but on the whole points
to the existence of customs akin to those existing
in the North-Western Provinces. The use of bhang at the Holi and Diwali
festivals and at marriages and such occasions, and of ganja or bhang in
connection with the worship of Siva, is frequently mentioned by the wit-
nesses. A few local customs are also mentioned by some witnesses. Re-
garding a custom of the Chamar caste, the Rev. Mr. Jacob says: "At
Chanda, the Chamars use ganja dust in the preparation of a beverage called
gulabpani, which is drunk at a ceremony called dadhi (the first shaving of the
beard), when no liquor is permitted." Among the Gonds, Cowasjee Nusser-
wanjee Hattidaru describes the following custom as existing: "In the funeral
ceremony amongst the Gonds of these provinces, kalli or flat ganja is placed
over the chest of the dead body of the Gond, and when the funeral party returns
home, a little of the ganja is burnt in the house of the dead person, the smoke of
which is supposed to reach the spirit of the dead." Another Satpura witness,
Hosen Khan, mentions a custom of offering "a little ganja at the Chitarai
Debis, or collections of stones with rags tied to some tree above. They offer
either a cock or a cocoanut or some ganja. It is a custom among travellers.
These Chitarai Debis are in the open, and the travellers have a smoke at the same
time." One witness states that he has heard of the hemp plant being worshipped
in the Berars, but this is not corroborated by any of the witnesses from these
districts. Another has heard that the Gonds in their hill homes are worshippers
of the plant.
Madras.
442. In the Madras Presidency, where the use of hemp drugs is less common
than in most other provinces, many witnesses assert
that there are no customs, social or religious, with
which they are connected, and the evidence as a whole fails to establish the pre-
valence of any customs so general as those connected with the Durga Puja and
the worship of Siva in Bengal or the Holi festival in the North-Western Prov-
inces. But there is evidence as to the existence of customs of a less general
or widespread nature. In Ganjam, the witnesses speak to the, common use of
bhang on the Mesha Sankranti day in honour of Siva and Anjanayya, and
also in the worship of Durga. Several also allude to a custom of offering a con-
fection or draught containing bhang to the image at the temples of Hanuman.
At the festival of Kama, the Indian cupid, bhang is freely made and drunk
according to several witnesses. The Rajputs or Bondilis are particularly
referred to in connection with this custom. On occasions of holidays or gala-
days, and at the Mohurram, a number of witnesses say it is usual for Muhamma-
dans as well as Hindus to take bhang. It is also said that various intoxicants,
including ganja, are sometimes offered to the gods in worship, and then swallowed
by those offering them. Witness M. Sundaram Iyer, Deputy Tahsildar (60),
says: "Some of the lower orders make use of ganja as an offering, like cocoa-
nut, plantains, liquor, and such other articles, for certain deities, such as Mathura-
veeran, Muniappan, etc., according to the vow taken by each person. This