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| Keywords: Haridwar, pilgrims 1850s.jpg Haridwar pilgrims 1850s HURDWAR A PLACE OF HINDOO PILGRIMAGE http //cgi ebay com/India-HARIDWAR-HINDU-PILGRIMS-Holy-City-Old-Art-Print_W0QQitemZ280169216327QQihZ018QQcategoryZ360QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem ebayphotohosting HURDWAR A PLACE OF HINDOO PILGRIMAGE s 1850 Artist S Prout Engraver Unknown many being from their filth their distortion or their nakedness the most disgusting objects imaginable The utter absorption of every faculty in the duty performed by the bathers who are only intent upon saturating their bodies with the sacred waters offers an extraordinary contrast to the listless indifferent air of the European spectators who lazily reposing on their elephants survey the scene at a convenient distance A few missionaries distributing copies of the Scriptures translated into the various dialects of the East are the only types of European intelligence that appear to take an interest in the scene around them Frequently upon this occasion a large congregation of the magnates of the land is assembled at Hurdwar The Begum Sumroo during her lifetime would often make her appearance with a retinue of 1 000 horse and 1 500 infantry Here also was wont to assemble the Nawab of Nujibabad the Rajahs of Ghuosgarh Uchet and Sadwa; the Putteeala rajah and his vakeel whose attendants were distinguished by their light yellow turbans and sashes; and the Rajah of Balespoor in the mountains all of whom the latter especially making it a point to traverse the fair mornings and evenings The Balespoor rajah usually appeared seated on a remarkably tall elephant in a large howdah overlaid with plates of solid silver glistening in the sun and covered with a pointed dome-like canopy of scarlet supported on four silver pillars richly embossed He wore a large white conical turban; and amongst the jewels that adorned his person were two enormous pearls set as ear-rings the hoops being of gold three inches in diameter A servant sat behind him waving slowly backwards and forwards over his head a splendid chowrie or feather-fan as an emblem of rank Many of his relatives followed upon elephants caparisoned in various degrees of splendour surrounded by horsemen showily dressed and accoutred capering and curvetting about Besides these were the usual rabble route on foot the constant attendants upon Eastern sovereignty crowding in the rear heedless of the vicious animals rearing and leaping on all sides as their riders fired off muskets matchlocks and pistols and made the adjacent hills reverberate with the sound Among these wild but truly Oriental pageants Rhutz four-wheeled carriages abound at the fair the roofs covered with white linen or scarlet cloth and terminating with ornaments of gold or silver these are chiefly occupied by women six or eight of whom are crowded into one vehicle; small curtained apertures at the sides enabling them to snatch hasty glances at the multitude around without themselves being visible Troops of dancing-girls also establish themselves at Hurdwar during the fair and are to be seen performing either in front of the houses or in the interior of the dwellings of the rich inhabitants As soon as darkness sets in the whole of the river the town and the inhabited portion of the forest present a continuous blaze of illuminations the display being varied by occasional bursts of fireworks Nothing can be more pleasing than the effect of the lamps sparkling and gleaming between the trees; while the islands and woody shores of the river are distinctly marked by innumerable vessels of oil kindled and sent floating down the stream At these immense annual gatherings the peace of the promiscuous multitude is usually preserved by a large detachment from the Sirmoor battalion of Goorkas or hill-rangers who come down from their quarters at Deyrah Dhoon and garrison one of the islands in the centre of the river where they are out of the way and yet sufficiently near to prevent disturbance A considerable body of police with the civil magistrates are also present to enforce regulations for the preservation of order Historical images of Haridwar India in the 1850s | ||||
