The three-day-long traditional Charak Puja of the Hindu community starts with enthusiasm and festivity in small scale amid lockdown at Bothor village in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna.
The festival begins by putting up a 13-yard long Charak tree after bringing it up from the lake.
After setting up the Charak tree in the temple premises, devotees, followers and devotees poured milk, oil and sugar on the tree in the hope of fulfilling their desires.
After offering incense on the jute of Pat (jute) Thakur, the ritual of worship begins on Monday (April 12) through the abode of Mahadev in the temple.
On Tuesday, at ten o'clock in the morning, the Charak tree was removed from the water of the lake.
The puja, which has been a part of the Hindu community's tradition for thousands of years, has become a public festival. Devotees come not only from Bangladesh but also India’s West Bengal to worship. But this year the image of the festival has changed because of the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown.
Ujjal Dutt and Manik Das, who came to pay their respects, said they believe that if they make a wish to Baba Mahadev, that wish is fulfilled. “That is why we come to pay homage to Mahadev. I hope the whole world will be at peace with the blessings of Baba Mahadev.”
Survi Dutt said: “Since I got married, I have been worshiping in the temple of Mahadev and at the Charak tree every year for fulfilling my wishes and desires. Baba Mahadev grants everyone's wishes. That is why I also come to worship.”
Uddipana Dutt said: "Everything I have wanted for so long has been fulfilled by the Creator. I hope it will happen again. I expect the same this time as well. I hope we will get a healthy world free from coronavirus.”
Due to the Covid-19 crisis this year, devotees from remote places could not attend the millenia-old traditional puja. The attendees prayed to end the Covid-19 crisis during the puja.
The Charak Puja started on April 13 and is set to end on April 15.
