because it is to be followed by a month, every day of which is
fortunate. For the purpose of preventing the evil effects of this month,
the women every morning scour a place about two feet square before the
door of the house, upon which they draw white lines, with flour. Upon
these they place several little balls of cow-dung, sticking in each a
flower. Each day these little balls, with their flowers, are preserved,
and on the last day of the month, they are thrown into tanks or
waste-places.

The first day of this festival is called the Pongul of rejoicing. Near
relatives are invited to a feast, which passes off with mirth and
gladness.

The second day is called the Pongul of the sun, and is set apart to
worship that luminary. Married women, after bathing themselves, proceed
to boil rice with milk, in the open air. When the milk begins to
simmer, they make a loud cry, "Pongul, O Pongul." The vessel is then
taken from the fire, and set before an idol. Part of this rice is
offered to the image, and, after standing there for some time, it is
given to the cows. The remainder is given to the people. This is the
great day for visiting among friends. The salutation begins by the
question, "Has the milk boiled?" To which the answer is, "It has
boiled." From this, the festival takes the name of pongul, which
signifies to boil.

The third day is called the _Pongul of cows._ In a great vessel, filled
with water, they put saffron and other things. These being well mixed,
they go around the cows and oxen belonging to the house several times,
sprinkling them with water. After this, the men prostrate themselves
before them four times. The cows are then dressed, their horns being