Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 188

THE ARATTI CEREMONY
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Bhooshan-abharanasya. He is presented with cloths,
and ornaments.
10. Gandha.
Sandalwood powder.
11. Akshatas.
Grains of rice coloured with saffron.
12. Push pa
Flowers.
9.
jewels,
13.
Dhupa.
Incense.
Dipa. A lighted lamp.
15. Neiveddya.
This last offering is composed of cooked
rice, fruit, liquefied butter, sugar and other eatables, and
14.
betel.
Before
these gifts, care should be taken to
water over them with the tips of the fingers.
The worshippers then prostrate themselves before the
offering
sprinkle a
little
deity.
For the intermediate puja the
offered
;
When
last nine articles are
for the lesser, only the last six.
sacrifices of blood are necessary to appease ill-
disposed gods or evil spirits, the blood and the flesh of the
animals that have been sacrificed are offered to them.
Arti or Aratti.
This ceremony is performed only by married women and
courtesans.
Widows would not be allowed, under any
circumstances, to participate in it
A lamp made of kneaded rice-flour is placed on a metal
dish or plate.
It is then filled with oil or liquefied butter
and lighted. The women each take hold of the plate in
turn and raise it to the level of the person's head for whom
the ceremony is being performed, describing a specified
number of circles with it. Instead of using a lighted lamp
they sometimes content themselves with filling a vessel
with water coloured with saffron, vermilion, and other in-
gredients.
The object of this ceremony is to counteract
the influence of the evil eye and any ill-effects which,
according to Hindu belief, may arise from the jealous and
spiteful looks of ill-intentioned persons.
The aratti is one of the commonest of their religious
l
.
1
^Yidows are not allowed to take part in any of the domestic cere-
monies of the Hindus. Their presence alone would be thought to bring
misfortune, and if they dared to appear they would be rudely treated
and sent away. Dubois.