Folk Lore Notes - Konkan

The guardian goddesses of the vilages of Pule Varavade Nandivade and Rila have Kunb.is as their polaris; while the polaris of the goddesses Malialakshmi Bhagvati Ifahtikali and Jogai are generally chosen from the Gurav caste.2 In the Konkan the Rauls (Shudras) are the pujaris of the deities Vithoba Ravalnath and Bliavani ; the Ghadis are the pujaris of the deities Sateri and Khavanes[...] The Divitiya or 2nd day of every month is considered sacred to the moon and on this day the moon is worshipped ; while the Chaturthi is con-. sidered sacred to the god Ganapati ant 4110: the Chaturthi of Bhâclrapada a special festival is held in honour of the god Ganpati 1 On the 15th day of the bright half of the month of Askivin people put milk in the rays of the moon for some time and then [...] Some say that the spot On the surface of the moon represents a Pipal tree and a cow fastened to the roots of the tree; others on the authority of Hindu mythology suppose that God created Madan (cupid) from the essence taken from the body of the moon and hence the moon-god has spots on his body.° En the Maherbharat it is stated that on the surface of the moon is reflected the iland of Sudarshan [...] 2 Ratha-Saptami:—On the 7th day of the bright half of Mdgh the sun is worshipped and milk is boiled until it overflo ws.3 Ookul-Ashiami:—On the 8th day of the dark half of Skravan the birth of the god Krishna is celebrated.4 Rama-Navami:—On the 9th day of the bright half of Chaitra the birth of the god Rama is celebrated.5 Vijayddashmi :—On the 10th day of the bright half of Ashvin people cross t [...] The thunder is also believed to be the roaring of the god Varuna the king of the clouds.5 The boys of the Ratnigiri District believe that thunder is a sign of the wedding ceremonies performed in the heavenly houses of the gods.° Some Mahomedans believe that an angel called Mekail has control over the rain.