The Pori festival of the Lahaul valley is remarkable. It is celebrated
in the traditional way at the temple of Trilokinath. On this day the statue
of the lord is bathed with milk and yogurt and then at about ten o' clock
in the morning a crowd of people goes around the temple beating drums
and blowing conchshells and bugles. A horse is also taken round the temple.
It is believed that the god sits on its back and this is why the horse
is drenched in sweet after the ritual. After the procession, the crowd
along with the horse goes to the palace of the local ruler where the horse
is given a grand welcome. The king then rides the horse and visits the
fair ground which is dotted all over with small shops. On this day a butter
lamp burns within the temple all day and all night long. The devotees
add more butter to it as they come and accept the ritual Prasad of multi-coloured
scraps of cloth with deep veneration.
