Charak Puja is a popular festival celebrated in
the rural areas of West Bengal and Kolkata. From time immemorial,
the festival has attracted large number of people from different
corners of the world. The festival is marked by a strict penance
wherein the performers of Charak Puja undergo extreme physical pains
and stresses. The festival is devoted to the deities Shiva and
Sakti.
Charak Puja is performed by usually ten to twelve members,
including both men and women. The bearers of the ritual are called
Charkia and the main performer Deoboinshi. Charak Puja starts with
the fasting period. The devotees keep fasts for one complete month
before performing the rituals. During this period the devotees live
strictly on fruits and do their daily worship. After a month of
fasting and on the day of Charak bamboo stages are erected. The
average height of these stages is about 15 feet. The performers then
jump from the stage onto the ground laid with broken glass, nails
and other pointed objects. The excitement reaches to apex when the
performers rise and without a single wound. There are yet other
devotees whose body can be seen overhanging from a hook fixed to the
stage. Charak Puja is one way to reach salvation, so is believed by
these men and women.
The Chark Puja has been restricted to remote areas after government
lay restrictions on certain practices. The festival is rural areas
is marked by local fairs.
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