Charak Puja also known as Nil Puja is a Hindu folk festival held in southern Banhladesh and West Bengal on the last day of the month of Chaitra in Bengali calender called Choitro.
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 Load Shiva, the great Debadideb of Hindu Religion. Though the festival takes place on the mid night of Chaitra Songkranti, the preparation phase usually starts before one month of the day. In Bangladesh, it is frequently found to take place at Thakurgaon, Patuakkhali,Gazipur, Dhaka and other district in villages and cities.
Though the festival takes place on the mid night of Chaitra Songkranti, the preparation phase usually starts before one month of 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.On midnight of the Songkranti, the worshippers are gathered together to worship the God and after puja the or asad is distributed.
A circus elephant walk on the street at Shahbagh square during the Valentine’s Day celebrations organized by the Dhaka South City Corporation on 14 February, 2016. In an atmosphere of fun, frolic and festivities, people across the country celebrated the Valentine’s Day It organized an innovative programmed titled “Pranoshokha Dhaka – Love for Dhaka” at Shahbagh intersection, considered the gateway to the DU campus for most of the city dwellers.
ওদের সংসারটা ফুটপাতে ! প্রায় প্রতিদিন নিয়ম করে— ওদের মা’ এই ফুটপাতে রেখে যান ! তারপর—শুরু হয় মানুষের কাছে থেকে কিছু সাহায্য পাওয়ার— অপেক্ষা ! দিনমান এই ফুটপাত যেন— ওদের আপন ঠিকানা, ঘর-সংসার ! এখানেই পরিচয়— বেওয়ারিশ একটি কুকুরের সাথে । ওরা কুকুরটিকে ‘টাইগার’ নামে ডাকে । প্রিয়া—প্রতিবন্ধী, কথা বলতে পারে না, সারাক্ষণ হুইল চেয়ারে বসে থাকে। তার গলায় একটা সাহাযে্যর আবেদন ঝুলতে থাকে ! খুব সুন্দর করে হাসতে পারে— ছোট এই মেয়েটি । হুইল চেয়ারে বসেই কুকুরটিকে আদর করে সে । আমি— এই সব কথা গুলো যার কাছে থেকে জানলাম তার নাম—পূজা । ন্যাড়া মাথার ছোট পূজা, ফুটপাতের উপর একটা কাঁথা বিছিয়ে—সেখানেই শুয়ে পরে—তারপর আকাশের ঠিকানায় তাকিয়ে থাকে ! সেদিন— ওদের ফুটপাতের সংসারটা দেখে এলাম । আহা—ফুটপাতের জীবন . . .
গুলিস্তান, পুরান ঢাকা
২৬, জানুয়ারী, ২০১৬
Bangladeshi young people celebrate a Paush Shankranti in their roof top at old part of Dhaka, Every year on 14 January people celebrate it with joy of happiness.The Paush Shankranti is the last day of Bengali month Paush. The day is also known as ‘Makar Sangkranti’ it’s celebrate like India, Nepal and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, young people of the old Dhaka celebrate Shakhrine with colorful kite flying during the day and than fire eating or blowing performances after dark with fireworks,music cracker works. also arranged.
The kite fighting gets all the more serious in the afternoon. Even the oldest members of the family join the youth. Meanwhile, different kinds of rice cakes, deserts and confections are made for the occasion. The festival is basically an event of joy, happiness and friendship. The scenes of Shakrain demonstrate the canvas of brotherhood and cheerfulness of old Dhaka dwellers.
According to the solar calendar, on the last day of the Bengali month – ‘Poush’, the sun moves towards its southward (Dakshinayana) journey at the Tropic of Capricorn and starts moving towards the Tropic of Cancer. The day is known as ‘Poush Sangkranti’, also ‘Makar Sangkranti’ all over the world. The day is celebrated by the Hindu community. In Bangladesh, it is more or less celebrated by the people of all religions especially in young community. The festival has been celebrating in here since Mughal period. Perhaps, the history is more primitive. January,2016, Old Dhaka, Bangladesh © Monirul Alam
MONIRUL ALAM 