Charak Puja is a very enchanting folk festival for Bengali Hindus. It
is also known as "Nil Puja". The believers of the Hindu religion
celebrate this on the last day of Chaitra (Chaitra Songkranti).
About Charak Puja
Charak Puja is a Hindu festival that is celebrated primarily in the eastern Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal. The festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as Charak or Charaka in some Hindu traditions. The festival is marked by a day of fasting, prayers, and rituals, and is considered to be an important time for spiritual renewal and purification.
The exact date of Charak Puja varies from year to year, but it usually falls in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April), on the full moon day of the month. On this day, devotees observe a fast and perform puja (worship) to Lord Shiva, asking for his blessings and protection. The puja includes offerings of flowers, incense, and food to the deity, as well as recitation of prayers and hymns.
Charak Puja is also a time for social gatherings and community events, and many families and friends come together to celebrate the festival. In some regions, traditional music and dance performances are held to mark the occasion, and people come together to share food and participate in group prayers.
Overall, Charak Puja is an important Hindu festival that is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in many parts of India. It is a time for reflection, spiritual renewal, and a reaffirmation of one's faith in the divine.
According to Wikipedia : Charak Puja (also known as Nil Puja) is a Hindu folk festival, held in southern Bangladesh and West Bengal on the last day of the month of Chaitra (in Bengali calendars called Choitro).
A similar festival in Maharashtra is called Bagad, while in Vizianagram, Andhra Pradesh it is called as Sirimanu utsavam.
People believe that the festival will carry prosperity by eliminating the sorrow and sufferings of the previous year. The festival is actually a festival to satisfy "Lord Shiva", the great "Debadideb" of the Hindu Religion. Though the festival takes place at midnight of Chaitra Songkranti, the preparation phase usually starts one month before the day.
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 with the arranged cosmetics such as Shiva, Parvati and Narod. The cosmetic Shiva is locally called "Nil Pagol" or "Jal Katha". At midnight of the Songkranti, the worshippers are gathered together to worship God and after puja, the prasad is distributed.
Illustration of Charak Puja from Twenty-four plates illustrative of Hindoo and European Manners in Bengal (1832) by Sophie Charlotte Belnos (1795-1865)
In one place, it is also known as "Hajrha Puja". The woman doesn't take a meal before Puja on this day. Sometimes in this festival, a human "Charak" is made ready to satisfy Lord Shiva. The "Charak" is tied with a hook (Borshi) on his back and then he is moved around a bar with a long rope. Though it is risky, they arrange it.
[ Charak Puja Puja Schedule in India, Nil Puja Date & Time, Neel Puja date and Time in India, Nil Sasthi Puja, নীল পুজা সময় সূচি, চরক পুজার সময় সূচি , नील पूजा , चरक पूजा ]
2024 Neel Puja (Charak Puja) Date and Time
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Name of Festivals |
Day & Date of Festivals |
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Charak
Puja / চড়ক পুজা |
Saturday 13 April, 2024 |
2023 Neel Puja (Charak Puja) Date and Time
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According To Bengali Calendar- 30 Chaitra, 1429
2022 Neel Puja (Charak Puja) Date and Time
Name of Festivals
Day & Date of Festivals
Neel Puja
Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Charak Puja
Thursday, 14 April 2022
Bengali Calendar- 30 Chaitra 1428
2021 Neel Puja (Charak Puja) Date and Time, 2020
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Bengali Calendar- Budhbar, 31 Chaitra, 1427
2020 Neel Puja (Charak Puja) Date and Time
Name of Festivals
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Days
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Date of Festivals
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Neel
Puja
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Sunday
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12 April 2020 |
Charak
Puja
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Sunday | 13 April 2020 |
চরক পুজা
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Monday
| 13 April 2020 |
বাংলা পঞ্জিকা অনুসারে -
বাংলা- ২৯ চৈত্র, ১৪২৬ (নীল পূজা)
বাংলা- ৩০ চৈত্র, ১৪২৬ (চরক পূজা)
History of Charak Puja
Charak Puja is a traditional Hindu festival that is primarily celebrated in the Indian state of West Bengal, particularly in the districts of Hooghly, Howrah, and parts of Kolkata. The festival is celebrated to mark the end of the Bengali year and the beginning of the new year according to the Bengali calendar.The origins of Charak Puja can be traced back to ancient times when it was performed as a ritual by the rural communities to appease Lord Shiva and seek his blessings for a good harvest. Over time, the festival evolved into a grand spectacle involving elaborate rituals, music, and dance performances.
In the present day, the Charak Puja festival is mainly associated with the worship of Lord Shiva and is performed on the last day of the Bengali month of Chaitra (usually falls in mid-April). During the festival, devotees fast, take a dip in holy rivers, and offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The main highlight of the festival is the Charak, which is a tall bamboo pole erected by a team of young men who climb up and perform various acrobatic feats while balancing themselves on the pole.
The festival of Charak Puja is steeped in tradition and has been passed down from generation to generation. Although the festival is primarily celebrated in West Bengal, it has gained popularity in other parts of India as well as among the Bengali diaspora around the world.
Worship of Charak Puja
The worship during Charak Puja is centered around Lord Shiva, who is worshipped as Charak or Charaka in some Hindu traditions. The puja (worship) typically involves the following steps:- Fasting: Many devotees observe a fast on the day of Charak Puja, abstaining from food and water for the duration of the day. This is considered a way of purifying the body and mind, and is seen as a form of spiritual discipline.
- Bathing: Many devotees bathe in holy rivers or lakes on the day of Charak Puja, as it is believed that this ritual helps to purify the body and mind.
- Puja preparations: Devotees prepare for the puja by gathering the necessary items, such as flowers, incense, offerings of food, and sacred threads.
- Puja ceremony: The puja ceremony involves offering prayers, reciting hymns, and making offerings of flowers, incense, and food to the deity. During the puja, devotees sing devotional songs, make prostrations, and offer flowers and fruits to Lord Shiva.
- Distribution of Prasad: After the puja, the offerings made to the deity are distributed among the devotees as prasad, which is considered to be blessed and spiritually potent.
The worship during Charak Puja is a time for devotion and spiritual renewal, and is seen as an opportunity for devotees to come together and reaffirm their faith in Lord Shiva. The puja is performed with great care and devotion, and is considered to be an important part of Hindu spiritual life. \
FAQ of Charak Puja
Here are some frequently asked questions about Charak Puja:
- When is Charak Puja celebrated?
Ans: Charak Puja is usually celebrated on the last day of Chaitra month in the Bengali calendar, which falls in mid-April. - What is the significance of Charak Puja?
Ans: Charak Puja is primarily celebrated to mark the end of the Bengali year and the beginning of a new year. It is also performed to appease Lord Shiva and seek his blessings for a good harvest. - How is Charak Puja celebrated?
Ans: Charak Puja involves elaborate rituals, music, and dance performances. The main highlight of the festival is the Charak, which is a tall bamboo pole erected by a team of young men who climb up and perform various acrobatic feats while balancing themselves on the pole. - What are the traditional foods prepared during Charak Puja?
Ans: During Charak Puja, devotees typically fast and offer fruits and sweets to Lord Shiva. Some traditional foods that are prepared include pitha (rice cakes), payesh (rice pudding), and luchi (deep-fried flatbread). - Where is Charak Puja mainly celebrated?
Ans: Charak Puja is primarily celebrated in the Indian state of West Bengal, particularly in the districts of Hooghly, Howrah, and parts of Kolkata. However, the festival has gained popularity in other parts of India as well as among the Bengali diaspora around the world. - What is the history of Charak Puja?
Ans: The origins of Charak Puja can be traced back to ancient times when it was performed as a ritual by the rural communities to appease Lord Shiva and seek his blessings for a good harvest. Over time, the festival evolved into a grand spectacle involving elaborate rituals, music, and dance performances. - What are some other names for Charak Puja?
Ans: Charak Puja is also known as Gajan or Neel Puja in different parts of West Bengal. - How long does Charak Puja last?
Ans: Charak Puja is usually a one-day festival, although preparations and rituals may take place in the days leading up to it. - Are there any specific dress codes for Charak Puja?
Ans: There are no specific dress codes for Charak Puja, but many devotees wear traditional Bengali clothing like sarees, dhotis, and kurta pajamas. - What are some other activities that take place during Charak Puja?
Ans: Aside from erecting the Charak pole and performing acrobatic feats, other activities that take place during Charak Puja include music and dance performances, processions through the streets, and offerings of flowers and sweets to Lord Shiva.
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3 Comments
Time and date of Neel puja in 2020
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