Worship of Dwâra Gusâîn.
A typical case of the worship of a local godling is found among the Malers of Chota Nâgpur. His name is Dwâra Gusâîn, or “Lord of the house door.” “Whenever from some calamity falling upon the household, it is considered necessary to propitiate him, the head of the family cleans a place in front of his door, and sets up a branch of the tree called Mukmum, which is held very sacred; an egg is placed near the branch, then a hog is killed and friends feasted; and when the ceremony is over the egg is broken and the branch placed on the suppliant’s house.”35 Dwâra Gusâîn is now called Bârahdvâri, because he is supposed to live in a temple with twelve doors and is worshipped by the whole village in the month of Mâgh.36 The egg is apparently supposed to hold the deity, and this, it may be remarked, is not an uncommon folk-lore incident.37
SHRINE OF BHÛMIYA WITH SWÂSTIKA.