The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-08-28
Festival Of Jusgernaut.

respectable writer gives the following
description OF the festival of Juggernaut:
Loud wcro the -rtIuuts OF f-triamph. mhich
greeted our. cars as we approached the tenn
pie OF Juggcrnaut. Immense were the
nuItitudcs that throngcd around, and thou
sands would no more have been missed
than single grain from handful OF lhc
hneSt sand. In n few minutes space, we
stood III front oil the idol, raised upon It's
enormous nous car, and surrounded bv a
whole host ut priests and devotecs
The first sensations which eXper;cnced
on approaching II, were those OF horror and
disgust; but, alas! how were these scnsa-
tons IN tcnlOid degree increased before
The ccFcmonics o! that day wcrcpasi The
car, or tower, on which the i/,l was raised,
STOOD at the height OF many !ect above the
ground. Its sides were adorned with mas.
s1ve ana enduring culpturc, representing
The most lasclviCious forms and iniauas
which the mind ol the wicked could sug
gest The platform on the top was graced
with an nnumcrable crowd of monsters.
half-man, half-bcast, in every variety and
shape; and IN the midst OF these, the idol
l,scll. huge mIshapen block Of wood, was
placed Its vlsagc was painted black, it's
mouth was ol a bloody colour, its arms we're
OF gold, and lis apparel was of the richest
and most varicgalcd colourcd silk. There
It sat, IN horrd, horrd lstIessncss, upon its
elevated throne. while the priests and their
assistants bowed themselves before il. and.
with the most indecent attitudes and res
lures, sought 10 proptlntc its favour and its
grace Loud and louder were the sbou,s
o the multitude, rs men, women, and cbil
a -,
De, even finger upon the ropcs that drau
sca ''le s,nprnd"us car. Many were the
WORKOUT and travel-suled pilgrims who
were crushed TO death IN the vain aud emp
~ struggle; but loud were the plaud,,s
winch they who died received, and smile
renamed upon their countenances even in
the bitter hour OF death
AT length the idol moved. The cnor-
nous wheels, upon which it was snooorred,
crcakcd and groancd beneath It's wcI,,ht.
and the deeply iudenled ground showed The
m!ncnsity OF the pressure that rolled along
IT'S surface. In a short space it STONED,
anu then the worship of the rod commenced.
The chief priests advanced, and with
many "A low salaam hogan to rec,c Iona
roll ol obscene and indecent verses. These
are the songs he exclaimed, "wi,h whjrb
the god is delighted. 1t is but when bo j..
pleased that his car will move 'lccordinrly
IL dld move few PAGES in advance, when
again 1t stopped, and anon youthful BEING
was brought forward, TO attempt il it miph,
be, something still more lasciviolis, 10 pro-
ptlaie his god lie began to caper-but
cannot will not, carry on The horrible de
script'on. Fancy cannot picture, the i'm.
asInatIon cannot conceive the denominations
OF this worship. turned away, in sick.
ness OF heart and in utter loa,hInr and dis.
| gust, from the sight; but a loud and renew.
! ed shout tell upon my ear, and iDyolumari
| " turned round and saw an cmucio,c,
and worn out pilgrim, with kind OF supcr
natural strength, and wild devotion rlcam
| ing IN his eyes, force his way through the
surrounding crowd, and PROSTATE himscl
on his iace IN the very course of the terrific
car, and, with oulslrGtchcd arms and legs
! await nnmovcd the consummation of hi,
| fate. On rolled tho ponderous wheels, an,
ere minute had elapsed, the misguidct
! wretch lay crushed, dismcmbered, broken
! shapclcss mass OF flesh, and scarcely to b,
distinguished from the dust amongst whicl
he waa almost concealed from sight. Lou,
songs OF praise accompanied this act O
| seli-deyoilon, for the multitude believed
that the victim would be received AS ia
vourc1 child Of Jnggcrnaut, and rccalle,
INTO life IN state OF everlasting happiness
and Joy.