The state journal., 1878-06-21
Juggernaut Pilgrimages in Orissa.

Mr.. Hunter gives vivid picture OF these
pi!grimages. Day and night, through
every month of the year, troops OF de-
votees arrive at Puri, and tor three hun
dred miles along the great Orssa road
every village has its encampment. At the
time oil the great festivals the band follow
so closely that they form n continuous
procession miles upon miles in length,
They march in orderly companies, each un-
der its leader or guide. Those guides may
be called the missionaries of Jagannatb.
About six thousand OF them are attached
to the temple from which they take their
departure for every section OF the country.
The arrival OF one OF these epilgrim-hunters
is a memorable event in the still life of a
Hindoo village. He is known by his hall
shaven head, coarse tunic, knapsack, and
palm-leaf umbrella. lie waits, patiently
chewing his narcotic Leaf, until the men
have gone into the field, and then makes
n round OF visits among the women. He
works alike upon their hopes and fears.
their piety and their folly. The older
ones long to look upon the face Of the
merciful god who will remit the sins OF a
life. The younger ores are allured by
the prospect OF a journey through strange
lands. Widows catch at any thing to re-
lieve the tedium OF their blighted exis-
tence; childless wives long to pick up the
berries from the childgving banyan which
grows in the sacred inclosure. In a few
days the missionary has picked up band
ofpilgrims. Fully nine out OF ten are
women, and when the bands come TO-
gether on the great Orissa road they pre-
sent motley spectacle. Here are COM
pany OF white clothed, slender women
from Lower Bengal, limping weari.y
along. Next train, clad in bright led
or blue, with noses pierced with rings,
trudges stoutly forward; they are the
rugged peasantry OF Northern India. Now
and then is lady from near Delhi, am.
bling along upon little pony, while her
husband walks by her side. A bullock
cart creaBs past upon its wooden wheels.
A long train OF palanquins conveys Cal
cutta banker and his family. Sometimes
there is a great north country rajah, with
whole caravan OF elephants, canes,
and horses. But nnety-fve out OF hum
dred OF the pilgrims are on foot. Mingled
with all are devotees of every sort. some
covered with ashes, some nearly
naked, with matted hair stained yellow.
Almost all have their toreheads streaked
with red and white paint, string OF beads
around their necks. and stout staff in
their hands.
So this great spiritual army marches
hundreds of miles along burning roads,
across unbridged rivers, through pestilent
jungles and swamps. Many perish by the
way; all are weary and toot-sore. But
no sooner are they within sight of the
holy city than all the miserics of the jour-
neys are forgotten. They hurry across
the ancient bridge with shouts and songs,
and rush to one OF the great artificial lakes
and plunge beneath the sacred waters.
The dirty bundles which they have car
ried all the long way are opened. and
yield forth their treasures of spotless cot
ton, and the pilgrims, refreshed and
cleanly clad. proceed to the temple to
partake of the sacred rice which has been
cooked within its wals-that sacred rice
from which the Lord of the World longed
in his old jungle home, and of which he
now partakes four times day in his tenn
plea. H. Guernsey, in Harpers Monthly
Tor July.