The traditional Charak Puja of Balurghat, a town in the Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal, is one of the most vibrant and spiritually charged folk festivals in the region. Rooted deeply in devotion and rural culture, this ritual takes place on Chaitra Sankranti, the last day of the Bengali calendar month of Chaitra (around mid-April).
🕉️ What is Charak Puja?
Charak Puja, also known as Hajrha Puja in some areas, is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is performed to seek blessings for prosperity, rain, and a good harvest, and to cleanse oneself of sins. The puja is marked by extreme physical endurance and acts of penance performed by the devotees, known as sannyasis or bhoktas.
🌾 Highlights of Charak Puja in Balurghat
Devotional Fervor:
In Balurghat, especially in areas like Tapan, Hili, and Kumarganj, Charak Puja is celebrated with intense devotion.
Preparations begin days in advance with fasting, rituals, and building elaborate bamboo structures (Charak gachh or tree).
The Bhoktas (Devotees):
The sannyasis or bhoktas voluntarily undergo physical austerities to prove their devotion.
Many of them walk on fire, pierce their bodies with iron hooks, or perform "Charak ghurano" — where they're swung around a tall pole using hooks pierced through their backs.
Nighttime Rituals:
The main rituals are conducted at night, symbolizing the end of the year and the renewal of spiritual strength.
Drumming, chanting of mantras, and dancing accompany the rituals, turning the atmosphere into a trance-like state.
Processions and Community Involvement:
Villagers gather in huge numbers, and processions are held where deities are carried on chariots.
Local artisans make colorful masks and effigies, adding a festive flair to the otherwise ascetic rituals.
Fair and Folk Performances:
A Charak Mela (fair) is also held nearby, where local performers enact folk dramas, sell traditional goods, and food stalls line the area.
🌿 Cultural Significance
Balurghat’s version of Charak Puja preserves the raw, unfiltered form of Bengali folk spirituality. It combines ritual pain, spiritual cleansing, and celebration — showing the resilience and faith of rural Bengal. Despite modernization, the people of Balurghat have kept this age-old tradition alive, passing it from one generation to the next.
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