The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-01-20

The Great Juggernaut Saturnalia.

The Great Juggernaut Saturnalia.
The Calcutta correspondent of the Lon
dun Times, on the 9th of July, gives
long aud graphic description of scenes at
the Suan Jattra and the Ruth Jattra-
the two great festivals of Juggernaut,
which are 50 widely celebrated in Hindoo-
stan. Commencing on Sunday, the 10Th
Ct June, by the priests bringing forth the
god to be bathed, it Terminated on the 9th
ult., when the,cars were drawn by thous-
auds of people, and the god was replaced
in bis home. The writer attended both
tn, Sc ceremonies, and the details into
which he enters will speedily dispel any
idea as to the Hindoos having abandon
ed the horrible practice of throwing them
selves under the wheels of the Juggernaut
Car. Passing over the bathing portion Of
the business, which seems to have parta-
ken of the character of farce, we will
come at once to the closing part of the
festival, which is said TO have been most
sickeuing and revolving tragedy, and one
which it was impossible to witness without
horror and disgust:
The crowd seemed infinitely more dense
than it had ever been on the former occa.
sim, and all along the road were booths
filled with sweetmeats, hideous masks,
trumpery, Birmingham ware images of
Juggernaut, Brishna, and other deities of
Hindoo mythology. 1t was barbarous
copy Of a country fair. There we're
whistles and tom-toms, shell-fsh, smelling
horribly in the sun, huge jack fruit,
some damaged piueapples, and here and
there rudely contrived merry go-round,
with stout boys enjoying the sport which
that machiue is capable of furnishing
There were nautch girls, hideously ugly,
chanting their drawing, wonotonous
strains to the music of an old fiddle and a
tom-tom. Then there were little acrobats,
no made 'CathariDe-w heels like the boys
who run, or used to run, by the side of
omnibuses in London streets.
There was also a stereoscope, with views
of the last Great Exhibition, on show at
one pice each person. The confusion
was indescribable, and when a shower of
rain came on, as happily it did once or
twice, the throng seemed to get up in a
kuot aud to be incapable of disentang Cling
itself, OF Of doing anything but roll help.
lessly from one side OF the road to the 9th.
er. The centres of attraction were the
two Juggeruaut cars. These are immense
numbering masses of wood, about 60 feet
in height carved into all sorts of angles,
and decorated gu every square inch with
figures of the del les. They are construc.
ted In four-storles, so to speak, and upon
each of these crowd of Brahmins and
their friends were collected.
Large idols were placed at each corner,
and two ropes of great leugth were attach
ed to the front of the car. The car moved
upon SIX heavy wheels, and the entire
weight Of the ponderous fabric must have
been enormous. Hour after hour the
multitude streamed past the cars, which
were at some distance from each other,
or they turned aside to shed, beneath
which were placed number of indecently
painted idols, afterward decorated with a
little drapery and hoisled on to a car. 1t
was not until four in the afternoon that
big gong Was beaten on the topmost d.
VISION Of the first car, and with great
shout Juggernaut himself, swathed in red
cloth, was brought to the spot. A rope
was fastened to him, and with much exer-
ton he was boosted from the stage by the
Brahmius-for by himself the god seemed
rather helpless.
They dragged him UP aud uncovered