Ifil
the best mantra when men and women praise the
deity and place flowers, scented sticks, incense and
perfumes. At this time women make a mixture of
colours in water with saffron and pump it out on the
people by means of golden horns. At this time
temple-maidens wear coloured cloth and golden belts.
They are marked on their foreheads with saffron dust.
They chew "pan Supari" and wear garlands of flowers.
Being thus pumped with coloured water, which is
yellow and gold, they enjoy the happiness of Cupid.
Those who follow the celestial in the " Swing)f
festival live long, happily, with good progeny,
wealth and corns, cross the worldly existence and at
last reach my city,"
(Visnu and Laksmi are substituted for Siva and
Uma when the Vaisijavas perform this festival.)
Translated from " JBhavi-p-Uttara Parva, Chap.
*33—PP-494- "