Sacrifice for the hope

Charak Puja is one of the most important festivals of Hindu religion in West Bengal and Bangladesh. This is a Hindu old ritual of immolation. This puja is held on the last day of Chaitra (last month of Bangla calendar). The celebration of this ceremony is not very old among the upper class people. However, in the ancient times, this festival was present in the community.

In 1485 the king Sundernand Tagore's family started this worship but Charak puja was never worshiped by the kings. It was folk culture of Hindu society. Most of the worshipers of worship are people of the lowly community of Hindus. So there is no need of Brahman in this worship.

All of these worshipers have a hope & faith in ghostly and reincarnation. Various events are similar to the earliest known languages of the Old Age. Many types of physical tortures are considered to be part of religious ritual in the festival of worship. Chasing a devotee or a sannyasin with the iron latch, the wheels are rotated with speed. On his back, hands, legs, tongue and other parts of the body, the arrow is pierced. Sometimes, the burning iron shank is blown on his body. In 1865, the British government closed the rule by law, but it is still common among the common people of the village. 

The worshiper of this ritual believes, if they accept extreme torture into their body at the last day of the year by the name of God. They will  rewarded from God a peaceful life and remove all sin which being done by them .

In the district of Rangpur, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Bogra, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Sirajganj, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Jessore, Satkhira, Bagerhat and Khulna were organized for arrange this festival at Bangladesh.

Shiva Durga dance is going on in the backyard and the devotees turn around to listen shiva’s songs.In return the team will take anything that the householder will give in return. This is how the devotees collect the cost of worship. Photo: Subrata Dey

Dance of God . Wwhen I captured this picture from Sylhet district of Bangladesh , I saw the delirious devotees of chorok puja dancing as a goddess Shiva and Durga. Photo: Subrata Dey

The story of shiva Durga’s marriage is described in the dance. Photo: Subrata Dey

Kali puja is held in the previous deep night of charak.Many devotees take part in this puja by fasting. Note that the devotees do not entrust any Brahmin in this worship. Photo: Subrata Dey

The preparation goes on all night. Hooks and iron spike is being sharpen.The monks will be pierced in this hook and spike at chorok puja. Photo: Subrata Dey

Goddess in the burning ash. It is the most attractive ritual in corok puja . in the dark mid night venerators dancing on burning ash for keeping some votive. Photo: Subrata Dey

Devotees are bathed before worship. After this the needles will be pierced and they are taken to the place of worship. Photo: Subrata Dey

The worshiper waiting for the priest to accepts the final votive by taking iron hook into their backrest. Photo: Subrata Dey

This is the picture of Charak Puja where Many types of physical tortures are considered to be the part of religious votive in the festival of worship. Photo: Subrata Dey

The amazingly powerful monks hang on the hook in painless ways. Its like a view of another world. Photo: Subrata Dey