Fairs and Festivals in Rural India- A Geospatial Study of Belief Systems (An Old and Rare Book) (Only 1 Quantity Available)

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This book has grown from probably the first doctoral dissertation in India which deals with the faith and belief systems by examining the significance of fairs and festivals in one of the most traditionalized cultural units (i.e. Ballia District) of the middle Ganga Valley. The area selected for the study is significant in this context.

In reference to methodology, field work and interdisciplinary approach, the work can be placed at a very high status. Phenomenological, historical, archival, literary and parti citatory observations are taken together to analyse the spatial and temporal views of the belief systems involved in the happening and functioning of fairs and festivals. Out of twenty figures, thirteen are fully based on very intensive field observations which show the depth of the work carried. "Text" and "Context" both are analysed in an integrated and balanced form; one can see its superb narration in chapter eight (cf. figs. 19, 20). The total view of temporal dimension and spatial inferences of the festivals (Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Christian) has been thoroughly presented in Table 6-this itself is a great contribution in understanding the calendrical system, motive, divinity-association, and pre-sent state of the festivals; additionally, the Puranic references are also given to trace their historical connections.

The contents and themes are systematically arranged in eight chapters, including the first presenting review and critical appraisal of the literature and also the present approach. This is followed with a short march over geographical setting of the region (chapter 2), evolution, growth and spatial patterns of fairs and festivals (chapter 3), religious significance and typology (chapter 4). Chapters 5 to 7 are based on detailed investigations of the samples: Dadri Mela (chapter 5), seven other melas (chapter 6), and Kasi Das Baba Puja, held on 3 August 1982 (chapter 7). The last chapter (8) deals with generalizations, summary and future scope with emphasis on the various common problems and their solutions in the light of respondents' observations and suggestions made by the organizing institutions and local persons. At the end, full list of fairs (250) and their locations are given by the Development Blocks (i. e. Appendix 1). The -analysis has also been compared and supported - with the topical research literature, given in the bibliography. In total, this is the work -of innovative nature and pioneering effort.

There are some printing slips, here and there, but in no way, they undermine the value - of the work. However, less emphasis has been given on the festivals; but I hope that may be emphasized in future studies.

I am sure this new work will attract scholars and future researchers in the field of belief systems so that we may understand the - significance of our rich cultural heritage with an awareness to conserve them.

Space speaks. Place expresses. But one can only understand that message if he has the skill to perceive the unique quality of a specific culture in addition to interpreting the perceived in a certain manner (Wahrnehmungsco pie-rung in German). There are two ways of interpreting it, i. e, as an outsider who narrates the uniqueness and visual exposition, and as insider who expresses his experiences and invisible reality with symbols and meanings. In the first group scientific-methodical approach dominates, while in the latter, the phenomenological approach. But both needs be taken as complementary to understand the system in all the possible ways. Whatever approach may be applied or whatever aspect may be analysed, there appear spatial manifestations and chain of temporality. Therefore, an interdisciplinary framework is the pre-requisite. As man is the most dynamic and mobile specie, his psychocultural world becomes more com-plex. This complex-whole can no better than the belief systems be explicitly visualized.

If man has to maintain his 'thought-process laboratory' he has to expand it through the changing dimensions of its niches and territorialities, interactions and feedback processes in the belief systems. In Hinduism one can find texts "to justify almost any imaginable theology; masculine monotheism, feminine mono-theism, the dualism of God and Goddess, abstract monism, or the doctrine of the plenum or the doctrine of the void" (Ingalls in Brown 1974: xvi). In such a diversified but inter-linked system it is important to know how men think in myths, but it is more important to see how myths think in men. This can be easily purveyed with the participatory observation of various fairs and festivals. In other words, 'men make the myths, and myths direct the men'. This has a dialectic hermeneutics, one related to faith and belief, and the other suspicion and doubt; but both have their own role in advancing a tradition and religious activities related to it. This can be easily understandable with the author's study of a caste associated regional festival, i.e. Kasi Das Puja in Ballia district. This does not mean that a deterministic or pessimistic ideology has been followed in this work, rather in all the stages and phases of the development of the work a deep involvement along with consciousness towards the good and bad sides has been maintained without following some rigorous hypothesis and theory, and in the other way no attempt has been made to advance some theory. In possible manner attempt has been made to "uphold the Nietzschean vision of truth which contains error".

Experiential expositions and phenomenological search have been relatively given more importance. Of course, patterns and processes are narrated in detail, and only marginally the 'impacts' are analysed, but ultimately no one could write the last word. Let me very humbly quote Wilcox (1974: 170): "Nor the error which has been over-come in a new truth, nor the error which those who like to themselves accept, but the inescapable error which is pre-sent even in the new truth". I well understand that there might be many errors and biasness, but there would also be some fresh grounds.