Charak Festival: Devotion and Tradition

The serene village of Mayurhat, nestled in the heart of Bagula, Nodia, came alive with color, music, and pure devotion as it celebrated the age-old Charak Festival on the evening of 14th April.  A festival that dates back centuries, Charak marks the end of the Bengali calendar year and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
     Traditionally celebrated on the last day of Chaitra (usually mid-April), Charak is not just a religious event—it is a powerful display of faith, self-sacrifice, and cultural unity. The village participates in transforming the fields and open spaces into sacred grounds of worship and celebration and fair. The charak festival preparations began days in advance. Villagers decorated temples, set up bamboo structures for the rituals, pandals, decorate the field attracting hundreds of people. Devotees, often referred to as “sannyasis”, who fast and undertook spiritual purification to prepare themselves for the main rituals. They wore saffron clothes, and moved in groups, chanting the names of Lord Shiva.

The heart of the celebration took place around the Charak tree, a tall pole erected in the center of the village field of Mayurhat. This Charak tree becomes the focal point of the rituals where sannyasis perform “yagya” and other daring acts of endurance and penance. The most striking part of the day was the “swinging ritual”, where participants, the sannyasis were hung from the tree by hooks pierced into their backs and swung in the air in circles. Different ages of men and women were seen to devote themselves and bring blessings to the village and villagers. These acts, though painful, are seen as a form of sacrifice—done with the belief that such devotion pleases Lord Shiva and brings blessings to the community.

The villagers believe that the ritual is not about pain—it is about surrendering to Shiva and praying for the protection of the village. They gathered around to witness the yagya, swinging ritual. Their pierced back scared as well as made me eager to witness the ritual. The field was filled with people of every age, every gender, chanting the name of Lord Shiva and collecting their blessings through “prasad”.

Aside from the rituals, the festival also served as a social gathering. Vendors set up stalls selling sweets, local snacks, and toys turning the village into a fairground. The spirit of unity was visible in every corner—neighbors helped each other, young people assisted the elders, and visitors from nearby villages were warmly welcomed.

The elders in the community took time to pass on the stories behind the Charak rituals to the younger generation, ensuring that the knowledge and respect for the tradition continued through different generations. The people of Mayurhat once again witnessed a powerful tradition that binds them together—not just in faith, but in spirit.