The Mirror The Moment
“Gajan” a Hindu folk festival is celebrated in different villages in West Bengal, India during the end of the month of “Chaitra” of the Bengali calendar followed by another festival named “Charak”. Gajan festival is mainly about worshipping Hindu Lord Shiva and Parvati before the start of the harvesting season. Gajan is actually connected to the people who are related to the agricultural community, directly or indirectly. They pray for the rains and better harvest and believe that this festival will give them prosperity by removing any sorrow and suffering that they faced in the past year. Kurmun a small village in the Bardhaman district of West Bengal, India magnificently celebrates this festival every year. During this festival Shiva devotees named Gajan sanyasis do several activities, Gajan sanyasi paint their faces and then dance around the whole village and request some “Bhiksha” (offering) as a part of the celebration.
Kausik Paul, India, Burdwan
