গাজন : বাংলার লোকসংস্কৃতির ইতিহাসের একটি পর্যালোচনা / Gajan : a review of the history of folk culture of Bengal

Abstract

Among the various festivals related to the greatness of Shiva that are prevalent in Bengali society, Gajan is one of them. The word Gajan is derived from the word Garjan. The Gajan festival primarily consists of three parts: Ghata Sannyas, Neel Brata, and Charak. Previously, devotees would observe Sannyas starting from the first day of Chaitra. Now, some strictly adhere to rules seven days prior to Chaitra Sankranti, while others do so three days in advance. In Gajan, the priest, known as Deyasi, is selected from among the marginalized communities such as, Dom, Bagdi, Dhibor, and Tanti etc. Depending on the region, Gajan is known by various names; for example, it is referred to as Argi Puja in some places, Neel Puja in others, and Gambhira in some areas. However, despite these different names, the main characteristic of this festival remains the same. During these days, the sannyasis perform various rituals and ceremonies. Apart from Gajan-related activities like Baanfora, Jhap, and Charak Ghora, there exists a broader visual representation. It can certainly be said that Gajan is a bearer and carrier of our ancient culture. The tales of people's lives in Bengal are vividly reflected in festivals like Gajan. In Rabindranath's words, this history of folk life is the true history, where the lively history of living people resides.