Spectacular
images have captured the celebrations of Charak Puja, a Hindu folk
festival held in southern Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Celebrated
on the last day of the last month in the Nepali calendar, people
believe the festival will eliminate the sorrow and sufferings of the
previous year and carry prosperity into the next.
In
this festival a human 'Charak' is made to satisfy the Lord Shiva.
The
'Charak' is tied with a hook on his back and then he is moved around a
bar with a long rope.
The
tradition behind Charak Puja is worshipping the Charak tree. Several
acts of penance are performed by Charak Sanyasis around and on the tree
on 14th April every year.
This includes inserting hooks through devotees
back.
Amazingly, the priests are able to pierce sharp hooks at the bodies of participants with very little cut or injury.
After years
of practice, they are able to pierce the sharp hooks without damaging
the veins and causing less pain. They then use these hooks to swing
around the tree.
The
Charak tree stands around 30 to 40 feet tall and has no roots or
branches.
The tree is worshipped by priests before being placed in a
ditch and balanced by bamboos.
After
the Sanyasis perform their penance acts, the tree is immersed into the
river. The Charak Sanyasis then brings it back to the puja ground, which
is a local ground.
Source: Daily Mail
No comments:
Post a Comment