Charak festival in West Bengal that I enjoyed in 2024

Photo Copyright: Satyabrata Maiti

Charak Puja also known as Chadak,  Nil Puja or Chaitra Sankranti  is a Hindu folk festival of Bengal villages held in admiration of the Lord Shiva.  This festival is observed in West Bengal and in some parts of Bangladesh on the last day of the month i.e. Chaitra of the Bengali calendar which is last month of the Bengali year and usually falls around April 14 or 15.   In fact festival starts a week in advance with Gajan or Shiva gajon.  The word gajan in Bengali comes from the word Garjan or roar that Sannyassis (hermits) emit during the festivities. Alternatively, the word Gajan is considered a combination of parts of two words – Ga is from the word gram meaning village and Jan is from the word Janasadharan meaning  common villagers(folk). In this sense Gajan is a festival of village folk.

It is associated with deities such as Shiva, Neel and Dharmaraj.  It ends with Charak Puja on the last day of Chaitra. The next day is Poila Baishakh,the first day of Bengali New Year. Participants of this festival is known as Sannyasi or Bhakta.   There is no  gender discrimination and any person can participate. The complete history of the festival is not known. The central theme of this festival is deriving satisfaction through non-sexual pain, devotion and sacrifice.

Fairs are often associated with the celebration of Gajan and Charak.

A young boy is trying to catch Prasadam (sugar candy called Batasa) thrown to the spectators by the Sanyasee while swinging in Charak.

1. Significance:
   • Charak Puja is performed to supposedly gain prosperity and success from the Hindu Gods, Shiva and Durga.
   • People believe that by satisfying Shiva during this festival, they can eliminate the sorrows and sufferings of the previous year and usher in a year of abundance and well-being.
2. Preparation and Ritual:
   • Organizers visit villages to procure necessary components like paddy, oil, sugar, salt, honey, money, and other items required for the ritual.
   • At midnight on Songkranti (last day of the month), worshippers gather to worship Shiva and Ma Durga for success.
   • After the puja, prasad (items blessed by the deity) is distributed to the devotees.
3. Unique Traditions:
   • Women fast before this festival.
   • Male devotees participate in a daring act: they swing from a pole with hooks attached to their backs using ropes.
4. Similar Festivals in other states of India:
   • In Andhra Pradesh, the Sirimanu festival shares similarities with Charak Puja. It involves venerating a ceremonial pole from an auspicious tree.
   • In some villages of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, jatras (festivals) in honor of local deities are performed, akin to Charak Puja.
   • Gauradan thookkam in Kerala which is common in Devima temples.

Charak Puja celebrates the oneness of all beings, the power of nature, and the need to respect our environment and natural resources. It’s a beautiful blend of tradition, devotion, and courage. 

I went to see the Charak mela in steamer Ghat of Tamluk, West Bengal and enjoyed it with eating “papar” from the mela and capturing photographs. I returned from the Mela with a deep sense of satisfaction of capturing a dazzling sunset in the background during the course of Charak celebration.