Mail News Service
Seraikela, April 11: The organizing committee of Bhurkuli village in the Seraikela block, held a detailed meeting to plan the upcoming Chaitra festival and the spiritually significant Chadak Puja. This annual event, centred around the ancient Baba Vishwanath Mahadev temple, draws thousands of Shiva devotees from across the region and neighbouring states.
The Chadak Puja and Chaitra fair are held every year on the occasion of Path Sankranti. As in past years, this year’s celebration is being planned with grandeur and devotion. The committee ensured that every villager would actively participate in organizing the event and that all necessary arrangements for visiting devotees would be in place. These include provisions for refreshments, clean drinking water, and the traditional distribution of jaggery and gram.
The festival commenced with the arrival of the Shubh Ghat (holy urn) on April 10, followed by worship rituals on April 11 and 12. A special Akharamaada will also be held on April 12 within the temple premises. On April 13, the traditional arrival of Shubh Ghat, Jatra Ghat, Gariabhar, and Kalika Ghat with twelve devotees will take place. A night-long Saraikela-style Chhau dance will be performed by artistes from Parvati Chhau Nritya Kala Kendra, Bhurkuli, and Shiv Shakti Chhau Nritya Kala Kendra, Devgirisai Bhurkuli, an d will continue until 5:00 a.m. the following day.
April 14 will feature the main rituals of Chadak Puja, beginning at 6:00 a.m. These will include intense devotional practices such as Santi Paat, Shobha Yatra, Mandapaat, Chadjhak Uda Paven, Jihwa Baan, Niauapaat or Agni Paat Rajni Fuda, Chalanti Gajadang, and the dramatic bullock cart pulling by Shiv devotees known as Paat Bhakts.
Prominent villagers including Sahdev Mandal, Madhav Mandal, Panchanan Mandal, Rajkumar Mandal, Jitbahan Mandal, Baburam Sardar, Sama Sardar, Sonaram Sardar and many others participated in the planning meeting, ensuring the event was well-coordinated.
According to village lore, the Shivling of Baba Vishwanath Mahadev was discovered on a farmland owned by two brothers. The temple was later constructed on the site through their mutual cooperation. It is widely believed that heartfelt prayers made at this temple are always fulfilled.
In the past, during British rule, the Chadak Puja was briefly banned due to the extreme acts of devotion displayed by the worshippers. These included pulling multiple bullock carts with iron hooks inserted into the back of devotees, flying suspended at great heights, and piercing the tongue with nails. The British, alarmed by these acts, imposed a ban. However, the tradition was revived with added safety measures and has continued ever since.
The upcoming festival promises to be a grand blend of devotion, culture, and community participation keeping alive a legacy that is both spiritual and historic.
