Hindu Holidays and Ceremonials : With Dissertations On Origin, Folklore, and Symbols

About The Book : The origin and evolution of this work will form an interesting fascicle of the history of India during Lord Curzon’s regime, as it was he who succeeded in creating the Ethnographic Survey of India, in the face of strong opposition from certain quarters. His Lordship’s name will remain in the pages of the future history of India as the greatest patron of the science of Ethnography of the vast continent of India. Sir Herbert Risley was selected for the important duties of Honorary Director of Ethnography for India. It was a happy choice, and through his able and scholarly directions a tremendous mass of the most fascinating details of the social life of India has been collected. I was first appointed Honorary Assistant Superintendent of Ethnography to the Government of Bombay, and subsequently Assistant Director of Ethnography for India under Sir Herbert. He asked me to write some articles for the ‘Indian Antiquary’ at Sir Richard lemple’s request. This was the beginning of the work I now call Hindu Holidays and Ceremonials. When Sir Herbert was promoted to the Secretaryship of the Government of India, Sir Edward Gait was appointed Census Commissioner. I continued working under both the officers and in that joint capacity submitted some of my articles to him, as well as to the Honourable Mr. R. Burn, I.C.S., who succeeded him.