Charak : A Festival of Faith, Fire, and Endurance

by Mr. Prithwiraj Pal
Assistant Professor,
HoD, Department of Media Science, TISL

Image titling by Payel Das
3rd Year Student,
Department of Media Science, TISL

Charak Puja, also known as Nil Puja, is a traditional Hindu folk festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is mainly celebrated in West Bengal and Bangladesh on the last day of the Bengali month of Chaitra. Deeply rooted in rural culture, this ancient festival carries a strong sense of faith and community. People believe that observing Charak Puja brings prosperity for the coming year and helps wash away the hardships and sorrows of the past one.

The celebrations take place on the night of Chaitra Sankranti, usually around April 13 to 15. On this occasion, both Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti are worshipped with devotion. The main participants, known as Sannyasis, perform various rituals as acts of dedication and spiritual discipline. Over time, Charak Puja has remained a powerful expression of belief, tradition, and cultural identity in Bengal. It is one of the oldest folk festivals of rural Bengal.

A short pictorial description of the festival:

A traditional folk song on Charak:

"ওরে নীলকণ্ঠ শিব, ভোলা মহেশ্বর,
গাজনে তোর মাতে আজ সারা জগতঘর।
ঢাক বাজে ঢোল বাজে, বাজে কাসর ঘণ্টা,
মহাদেবের গাজন শুইনে, ফুরোয় সকল দুশ্চিন্তা।"

Charak Puja: An Ancient Echo of Rural Bengal's Faith

                                                               

Deeply connected to rural life and traditions, Charak Puja (also called Nil Puja) is more than just a festival—it shows people’s strong faith and cultural roots. Celebrated on Chaitra Sankranti, it is a time to leave behind past sorrows and welcome a new year filled with hope and prosperity.

Divine Bounty Shared

Witnessing the joyful culmination of the rituals as 'Sannyasis' distribute the 'Prasad' offered to Lord Shiva, creating a heartwarming scene of community and faith.

Leap of faith

With their ground full of knives the devotees jump with the belief that they don't get hurt on the stage, because the Lord blesses and protects them. This is known as ‘Jhapan’.

  

Fanning the Firestorm of Devotion

Keeping their devotion alive, devotees on the outskirts of Kolkata perform the captivating “Agni/Agun Khela and Baan-Fnora” near a Shiva temple. This sacred ritual is believed to purify the soul and help leave behind the sorrows of the past year.

Embracing the Flames

In the heart of rural Bengal, the dangerous play with fire stands as a symbol of spiritual discipline and unwavering devotion during the Charak celebrations.

Sacred Heights 

A devotee tethered to the 'Charak Tree' by traditional hooks, performing a high-altitude act of dedication to Lord Shiva, rooted in centuries old rural tradition.

Another traditional folk song on Charak:

"ঘুরছে চরক ঘুরছে দেখো, শূন্যে সন্ন্যাসী,
মহাদেবের কৃপা পেলে, কাটবে দুঃখরাশি।
কাঁটার ওপর লাফিয়ে পড়ে, বাণ ফোঁড় শরীরের,
শিবের প্রিয় ভক্ত এরা, চরণের দাস বীর।"

Image Courtesy: Payel Das, Prithwiraj Pal

Song Courtesy: Folk songs collected from Internet