"One of the Hoolie diversions, by the way, is what in England is called making April fools, by sending persons on errands and expeditions that end in disappointment and raising a laugh against them. 'The Hoolie (says Colonel Pierce, in the 'Asiatic Researches') is always held in March, and the last day is the general holiday.' In India high and low join in the fooling custom; and Suraja Doulah told Colonel Pearce that he was very fond of making Hoolie fools, though he was a Mussulman [Muslim] of the highest rank.
"They carry the joke so far as to carry letters making appointments in the names of persons who, it is known, must be absent from their homes at the time fixed upon; and the laugh is always in proportion to the trouble given.
"The least inquiry into the ancient customs of Persia (notes Brand, in his Popular Antiquities), or the minutest acquaintance with the general astronomical mythology of Asia, would have told Colonel Pearce that the boundless hilarity and jocund sports prevalent on the first day of April in England, and during the Hindoo festival of India, have their origin in the ancient practice of celebrating with festival rites the period of the Vernal equinox, or the day when the new year of Persia anciently begins."
Source and cont'd : great text and photo resource harappa.com
Comments