The "Bahanno Pagol" Festival: A Unique Tradition of Shiva Worship in Bengal’s Folk Culture
Historical Origins of the Bahanno Pagol Festival
The village of Jiratali in Noakhali, which is in modern-day Bangladesh, is where the Bahanno Pagol festival first began. In the beginning, almost fifty families from the Das-Jele (fisherfolk) community in that area practiced it. But after India was divided in 1947, this group was uprooted and moved to different regions of the country, such as Nadia, Bardhaman (Burdwan), and Tripura.
This holy custom was revived by the community after they relocated to West Bengal, specifically to the villages of Nasherkuli and Baghdanga in the Nadia district. People from all walks of life in the villages now participate in the festival, which has grown over time to transcend caste and community boundaries. The entire village becomes a hive of joy and devotion as a result of the event, which represents harmony, shared heritage, and spiritual ecstasy.
Main Rituals of the Bahanno Pagol Festival
🔹 Initiation into Monastic Life (Sannyas Grahan):
Devotees start a spiritual cleansing process in the middle of Chaitra. After cutting their nails, beard, and hair, they bathe ritualistically in a river or pond. On a Saturday or Tuesday, the initiation into monastic life starts with the worship of holy items such as the Trishul (trident), Barshi (fishing hook), and Ban (ritual staff). Following initiation, the sannyasis adhere to stringent guidelines: they eat a simple vegetarian meal after sunset and only fruits during the day.
🔹 Neel Sasthi Puja – The Main Day of Worship:
Male sannyasis dress up as Shiva, Durga, and Ganga manifestations on the main day, Neel Sasthi. They engage in ritual dances all day long, accompanied by traditional musical instruments such as dhak, kansar, and other folk drums. These sannyasis visit homes throughout the village from dawn until dusk, gathering money and alms. They symbolize not only the gods but also the community's social archetypes, embodying the "Bahanno Pagol."
🔹 Worship of Living Deities:
For the day, people are worshipped as living gods who assume the guises of Shiva, Durga, or Ganga. To obtain blessings, people of all ages touch the feet of the Shiva figure. Under the direction of a head monk known as the Bala Sannyasi, these divine figures are worshipped with fervor when they enter a home. Bananas and milk are common offerings. One must be a member of the Jele-Das community and undergo Vaishnava spiritual practices, which involve a guru and mantra, in order to assume these divine roles.
Bahanno Pagol is a remarkable celebration of faith and cultural identity because of its distinctive fusion of devotion, community involvement, and folk tradition.
Additional Rituals and Community Involvement in the Bahanno Pagol Festival
🔹 Role of the ‘Sajonira’ (Female Supporters):
Although men are the main participants in the Bahanno Pagol rituals, women, also referred to as Bahanno Pagol Sajanira, also play a significant supporting role. These women may actively participate in the festival by eating vegetarianism and helping with various religious and ceremonial activities. They may come from any caste or community. They are not, however, allowed to assume the festival's essential roles, such as representing gods or carrying out the main ceremonies. Rather, they make behind-the-scenes contributions that help guarantee the festival's success.
🔹 Bahanno Pagol Dance – A Folk Theater of Society:
The Bahanno Pagol Nritya (dance), in which villagers from diverse backgrounds dress up as various social characters—such as doctors, police officers, cobblers, thieves, and drunkards—is one of the festival's most captivating features. The humor and diversity of rural life are reflected in this folk performance. The main worship starts after sunset. A special Neel Puja is held at night at the person's home, followed by a communal meal of sacred offerings, if the person's manas or personal wish is granted.
🔹 Hajra Puja and the Midnight Feast:
A unique midnight ceremony called Hajra Puja is held in an open field after the evening rites and prasadam. The mystique of the evening is increased by the performance of masked dances that symbolize Shiva and Kali during this ritual. A customary feast is planned following the Hajra Puja. Eight varieties of fried food and roasted shol fish, a freshwater delicacy, are offered to the Creator. The festival's intense spiritual journey comes to an end before dawn when the sannyasis return home from the field and rest.
The Bahanno Pagol festival is a living folk tradition, full of cultural depth, community involvement, and symbolism, thanks to these customs.
Poila Boishakh Fair – The Joyful Culmination of the Bahanno Pagol Festival
🔹 Poila Boishakh Milan Mela (New Year’s Fair):
A lively fair is held in the courtyard of the Kali temple in Baghdanga on the evening of Poila Boishakh, also known as the Bengali New Year. The Bahunna Pagol celebrations come to a happy end with this Milan Mela (festival of union).
As a thank you for their dedication and performance, the artists and participants of the Bahunna Pagol festival receive their honorarium, or dakshina, during the fair. Instead of keeping this sum for themselves, they spend it at the fair, where they indulge in simple pleasures like ice cream, papad (crispy snacks), rides on the giant wheel, and other enjoyable activities.
The festival's spiritual intensity is replaced by genuine celebration and camaraderie through this joyous and group participation in the fair. This last event embodies Bahanno Pagol's cultural unity by fusing celebration, folk art, and devotion into a single, cohesive custom.
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Social and Cultural Significance of the Bahunna Pagol Festival
🔹 Beyond Religion – A Living Folk Theatre:
Bahanno Pagol is more than just a religious celebration; it's a lively manifestation of communal life and a type of social folk theater. Participants come from all walks of life, representing solidarity across caste and class lines. Women actively take part in planning the rituals and graciously entertaining guests, while men play the roles of deities and other symbolic figures. This helps to strengthen the sense of harmony and group devotion.
Challenges and the Path Ahead
🔹Younger people's participation in the festival has decreased in recent years. The fervor for ornate costumes, conventional roles, and ritual discipline is progressively diminishing. Furthermore, a lack of personnel and genuine materials for traditional clothing and instruments is becoming a bigger problem for the festival. This priceless folk tradition runs the risk of disappearing into obscurity in the absence of appropriate preservation measures and backing from the government and society at large.
It is crucial to conduct cultural research, record its customs, and encourage intergenerational transmission through community involvement and education in order to preserve Bahunna Pagol's future.
Conclusion
Bengal's living folk culture, which is a complex web of religion, customs, social values, and historical memory, is remarkably carried by Bahunna Pagol. It serves as evidence of the enduring faith, solidarity, and cultural diversity of Nadia district villages like Nasherkuli and Baghdanga. Honoring a community's identity and making sure that their stories are told are more important than preserving a custom. It calls for our combined awareness, hard work, and sincere dedication.
তথ্যদাতা:যোগেশ্বর দাস (বালা সন্ন্যাসী)
🔗 বাংলায় পড়তে এই লিঙ্কে ক্লিক করুন:🎭 বাহান্ন পাগল
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