Uttarakhand 145
desease, or who has been robbed of property, or whose cattle
have been stolen or lost, or who are anxious about the safety of
members of their family at a distance, and so on, go early, fasting,
taking a handful of rice, with a piece of offering for the gantua
(sorcerer), and present them to him. He keeps the piece as his
fee, and taking the grains of rice in the palms of his hands, moves
them up and down, uttering incantations and the names of the
local gods and ghosts, professing to calculate by the movement
of grains of rice, he then declares who is the cause of the trouble,
and gives advice as to the worship of the deity whom he names,
and to whom the disorder or misfortune is ascribed. When
the name of the God under whose baleful influence the afflicted
person has fallen has been thus ascertained, resort is next made
to the "dungaria", a devotee or dancer of the particular "deity".
The name is derived from "Dungari" which means a hilltop, as
these rustic rites are often performed in such high places of the
field or perhaps because the dungaria usually resides in such
places.
In case of sicknesess or misfortunes, he is very frequently invited
to the house, and on his coming and taking his seat there, incense
is offered to him, and he is begged to make himself at home and
overlook any faults inadvertently committed by the afflicted per-
son or by any other member of the family. Then a little tobacco
is given to him to smoke in a "katori" or easthen vessel used for
the purpose. After smoking it the man appears to show signs of
intoxication or narcoric influence, and then suddenly jumps up
with a wild yell. This is supposed to be the moment when he is
"possessed" by the deity. Incense is again offered to him as the
incarnation of the god, and he is humbly entreated to cure the
sick person. At this stage the man sometimes remains mute, and
deaf to all entreaties. Again and again he is propitiated with
clasped hands and prostrations. After a while the god begins to
attend, and the inspired man utters some stammering and my-
stic words. Then he unfolds the cause of disease or calamity,,
and enjoins certain gifts, offerings, or services for the satisfaction
of the offended deity.
It is remarkable that to an extent the idea of incarnation, or
rather personation enters into the popular religion of the country.
The spirit of a god or demon is supposed to enter fee bodies of