Charak Puja

rdf:langString Charak Puja

rdf:langString Charak Puja

rdf:langString Nil Puja, Hajrha Puja

rdf:langString Charak Puja

rdf:langString Hindus

rdf:langString Charak Puja is being performed at village Narna, Howrah, April 2014.

rdf:langString Nil Puja, Hajrha Puja

rdf:langString Indian festival

rdf:langString Charak Puja (also known as Cadak, and Nil Puja) is a Hindu folk festival held in honor of the deity Shiva. The festival is observed in the India, in the state of West Bengal, and in Bangladesh on the last day of the month of Chaitra (Choitro in the Bengali calendar) at midnight. People believe that by satisfying Shiva, the festival will bring prosperity by eliminating the sorrow and sufferings of the previous year. The preparation usually starts a month in advance. The arrangement team of the festival go from village to village to procure the necessary components like paddy, oil, sugar, salt, honey, money and other items needed for the ritual. On the midnight of the Songkranti, the worshippers are gathered together to worship Shiva and Maa Durga for success, and after a puja, the prasad (items blessed by the deity) are distributed. In one place, it is also known as "Hajrha Puja". Women fast before this festival. Many times male devotees swing from the pole by hooks thrust through their backs, the hooks being attached to the pole by ropes.