The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-09-10
FESTIVAL OF JUGGERNAUT.

A respectable writer gives the following de-
scription of the festival of Juggernaut:
Loud were the shouts of triumph which greet
ed our ears as we approached the temple OF
Juggernaut Immense were the multitude that
thronged around, and thousands would no more
have been missed than a single grain from
handful of the finest sand. In few minutes
space, we stood in front of the idol, raised up.
on its enormous car, and surrounded by whole
host Of priests and deVotees.
The first sensations which | experienced on
approaching it, were those of horror and dis
gust; but, alas how were these sensations i'll
a tenfold degree increased before the ceremo-
nies of that day were past The car, or tower,
on which the idol was raised, stood at the
height OF many feet above the ground. Its sides
were adorned with massive aud enduring sculp'
ture, representing the most lascivicious forms
and images whicn the mind Of the wicked could
suggest. The platform OH the top was graced
with an innumerable crowd OF monsters, hall
man, half.beast, in every variety and shape;
and in the midst of these, the idol itself, huge
misshapen block of wood, was placed. Its Wis.
age was painted black, its mouth was OF
bloody colyEsits arms were OF gold, aud Its ap.
parel was Of the richest and most variegated
colored silk. There it sat, in horrid, horrld
li,tlessness, upon its elevated throne, while the
priests and their assistants bowed themselves
before it, and, with the most indecent attitudes
and gestures, sought to propitate its favor and
its grace. Loud and louder were the shouts
of tue multitude, as men, women, and children,
all pressed forward to lay, if it might be, even
tilger upon the ropes that dragged the stu.
pendous car. Many were the worn out and
travel -soiled pilgrims who were crushed to death
in the vain and empty struggle; but loud were
the plaudits which they who died received, and
smile remained upon their countenances even
in the bitter hour Of death.
A, length the idol moved. The enormous
wheels, upon which it was supported, creaked
snd groaned beneath its weight, and the deeply
;ndented ground showed the immensity of the
nressure that rolled along its surface In
short space it stopped, and then the worship OF
the god commenced.
The chief priests advanced, and with many
, low salaam began to recite long roll of Oh.
soane and indecent verses These are the
sona sor he exclaimed, "with which the godis de-
l;ohted. 1t is but when he is pleased that his
.csr will move.' Accordingly it did move
few PAGES in advance, when again # stopped,
and anon a youthful being was brought for:
wal ward, IT. to attempt, if it might be, something still
more lascivious, to propitiate his god. He be-
nan @ to caper-but cannot, | will not, carry on
the the horrible description. Fancy cannot pic
ture, the Imagination cannot conceive the
abominations % Of this worship. turned away,
in sickness of heart, and in utter loathing and
disgust, from the sight; but loud and renew;
ed shout fell upon my ear, and involuntar'ly l
turned round and saw an emaciated and worn
cut pilgrim, with kind Of supernatural strength
and = Wild devotion cleaning in his eyes, force
his way through the surrounding crowd and
PROSTATE himself on his face in the very course
of the terri Gar, and, with outstretched arms
and legs, awsit unmoved the consunmatIon OF
his fate. OnFolled the ponderous wheels, and
ere minute had elapsed, the misguided wretch
lay crushed, dismembercd, broken shapeless,
mass Of flesh, and scarcely to be distinguished
from the dust amongst which he was almost
concealed from sight. Loud songs OF praise
accompanied this act Of self:devotion, for tho