Goddess Dilli Polasi

Dilli Polasi is a Dravidian deity who is represented by a number of pots that are placed one on top of another, the largest at the bottom that is hung in a network of rope. These pots are seen in any village house. The household worship is also very simple. The wife`s mother sends new clothes to her daughter and son-in-law. They wear these clothes and tie the ends together, sit near the household god, while the village story-teller, dressed as a Brahman, gives a forecast of the coming year. He imitates a Brahman in reading their horoscopes and the prediction is a favourable one. The husband and wife remarry. The wife removes her tali which is worn around her neck. The story-teller now acts as a priest, furnishes a new string and her husband again ties it around her neck as he did on the first wedding day. Thereafter Goddess Dilli Polasi is worshipped.

The public worship is more often engaged in by one family or a group of related families. In this worship an earthen image is made which is allowed to fall to pieces in sun and rain afterwards. The head of the family acts as priest. The pots and ropes are taken to the water and they are left there all night. In the morning the family head summons all the relatives. A sheep is sacrificed. Thereafter a muggu is made on the ground and another sheep is sacrificed. The ropes and pots are taken from the water and carried in procession through the village. When the house is reached another sheep is sacrificed. The person who executes cuts the throat and then takes it by the rear legs; he swings it around several times. This is offered to the evil spirits which may be hovering in the air. It is hoped that after being appeased they will not attempt to enter the house. The people enter the house and worship the earthen image of Dilli Polasi. Now the story is told and if the family is able to hire a story-teller of ability it may continue for many days.