Virgins take home a little of the Holi fire and light five cow-dung cakes with it in the courtyard of their house. When the cakes are burnt, the ashes are removed and the spot is purified with a plaster of cow-dung. Next, they draw some auspicious figures on the spot and worship them for a number of days in the belief that this ensures good health to their brothers.[65]
Among Gujarāt Hindus no special ceremonies are performed when a girl attains puberty, except that on the third or fifth day she is bathed by an unwidowed woman and dressed in green or saffron-coloured robes. She is given rice in milk, sweetened with sugar, and is presented with a piece of green satin.[66]
In some places, the girl is bathed on the fourth day and given kansār to eat. She then bows to her mother-in-law and makes her a present of half a rupee. The mother-in-law blesses her and presents her with a bodice cloth.[67]
After the bath, a mark with red powder is made on her forehead and she is taken to the temple of the family deity.[68]
In some places, the red powder mark is made under the girl’s right arm in the belief that this ensures to her the birth of many children.[69]
In some localities the girl is bathed on the third day, dainty dishes are served her, and she is presented with a cocoanut by each of her kinsfolk.[70]
In some castes, when a girl attains puberty, a feast of cooked rice and molasses is given to the caste people. In other castes, pieces of cocoanut kernel are distributed among children, and the girl is presented with a robe and bodice by her parents-in-law.[71]
In some castes, a girl is not allowed to cook before she attains puberty.[72]
No ceremonies are performed when a boy attains puberty, probably because in the case of boys the change is not so marked as in the case of girls.