Hindu festivals in a north Indian village
By: Stanley A. Freed, Ruth S. Freed.
Contributors: Freed, Ruth S.; American Museum of Natural History.
Series: Anthropological papers of the American Museum of Natural History -- no. 81
Publisher: American Museum of Natural History
Published: 1998
Place of publication: [Washington, D.C.]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 326
Subjects: Fasts and feasts -- Hinduism.; Fasts and feasts -- India.; Festivals -- India.
Description: "Festivals are the most visible feature of village Hinduism. All common ritual practices are on display. The relationship of festivals to family life, the agricultural year, and to the everyday concerns of village people are clearly seen in offerings to deities, gifts exchanged between relatives, songs, drama, and storytelling. Festivals are the best point of entry into the study of Hinduism in ethnographic context."--BOOK JACKET. "In Hindu Festivals in a North Indian Village the authors describe each festival, tracing its relationship to other important village institutions, such as caste, kinship, and seasonal agricultural activities. Their analysis goes beyond the festivals as practiced in Shanti Nagar to include comparisons with practices in other villages and references to Indian and Hindu history, mythology, astronomy, and astrology. They note differential participation in festivals by caste, sect, age, and gender. The study covers a period of two decades. Although the festivals continued almost unchanged during this time, the authors point out the few discernible differences."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: "Issued November 5, 1998."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Exchange -- American Museum of Natural History