DURGA PUJA.
[The following paper was originally published in the "Hindoo Patriot" for the 23rd October, 1871.]
THE PRATIMA OR THE GROUP OF FIGURES(1).—CONSTRUCTION.
On the day of Ratha Yatra, i. e. on the second day of the bright half of the month of Ashadha, a piece of bamboo-slit of the required length is properly cleaned and smoothed and rounded by the kumbhakara (potter) and then taken up to the room where the family idols are kept; the family priest, after worshipping Vishnu, anoints it with chandan, a sandal-wood paste, and invokes Durga upon it. This piece of bamboo-slit remains in the same room till on the eighth day of the waning moon of Sravana, i. e. till the Janmashtami, when the architect of the pratima brings it down. The frame-work (katamo) is then commenced. The materials are scrupulously collected, and every precaution is taken to preserve their purity (i. e. freedom from defilement by unbelievers.) The materials are pieces of bamboo-slits, unpealed garan (Ceriops
