Gajon In Kolkata

According to some sociologist, Gajon is a strategy to remain intact
the prejudices of aboriginals. So called people of higher class are
the inventor of this strategy. Once upon a time the aboriginals used
to perform their horrid customs like Baanfora (বাণফোড়া), Kantajhap
(কাঁটাঝাপ) etc. Those customs are now being performed by the lower
classes of the society. And by this way, the due honour is being paid
to them by the people of higher class.

The other section of sociologists opined that a very ancient rumour is
behind this festival. The king of demons (the untouchables in modern
sense) was Baan (বাণ রাজা). His daughter Usha fell in love in her
dream with Aniruddha - the grandson of Lord Krishna. She sent her
'sakhi' Chitralekha to Dwarka to fetch Aniruddha. Then, Usha married
him secretly. However, the news licked and the king captivated
Aniruddha. But, being informed about it, Lord Krishna attacked the
kingdom of Baan by the help of Balaram and defeated Baan after a
furious battle. The couple Aniruddha-Usha went to Dwarka with Lord
Krishna and Balaram.

Another episode in vogue at some areas of Raar Bangla (রাঢ় বাংলা) has
been added to the above story. According to that episode, at the last
part of that battle, while Baan attempted to kill Aniruddha, the
'Sudarshan Chakra' (সুদর্শন চক্র) of Lord Krishna cut his body. In his
dying prayer, Baan said to Krishna that the sons of Aniruddha-Usha
shall familiar in the society as upper-class childrens according to
Krishna's class; but, at least a day may be fixed when those
differences would be abolished and childrens of upper class will get a
chance to pay honour to their maternal (lower-class) relatives. Lord
Krishna accepted this and the day of Charak or Gajon is that
particular day when the lower class people being worshiped by higher
class people.

Some people think, this Gajon or Charak Puja was famous as the puja of
Dharma Thakur - the popular God of Hindus belonged to madieval age.
But another part of the people think, it was the puja of Baba
Panchananda (পঞ্চানন্দ) or Panchu Thakur (পাচু ঠাকুর) or Baba Thakur
(বাবা ঠাকুর). Later, all these pujas have been converted into the puja
of Lord Shiva. Perhaps, for this reason, Neel Puja (নীল পূজা) is being
performed on the day before Charak Puja.

The Charak tree use to be cleaned on the eve of Charak. The Shiva
Lingo is being kept on a container with water. It is called 'Buro
Shiv' (বুড়ো শিব). The wedding of Lord Shiva, Agun Jhap (আগুন ঝাপ),
Kanta Jhap, walking on embers, Baan Fora, swing on Charak tree etc to
be seen as the performance on the day of Charak. Arrow-needle (বাণ
শলাকা) used to perforate in many parts of the body of devotee. This
custom was very painful and inhuman too. At present, it is not only
prohibited, but a punishable offence too. For the seek of religion,
the devotees eager to earn virtue, used to perform those hard work.
But, the educated section of the society protested against the
practice and during the reign of Lord Beadon, that inhuman practice
had been abolished by law from the year 1864-65.

'Song' (সং) or Clown is another part of Gajon or Charak. Several
stories are behind it. In one story, lovelorn Lord Shiva sent Nandi to
Himalaya to fetch Parbati. In the meantime, a dancer of heaven
entertained Lord Shiva by her unique disguise and song. Lord Shiva
became very pleased to observe her disguised dance. By this way, dance
in disguise became very popular on the occasion of Gajon - two
'Sannyasi' dance in disguise as Shiva & Parbati. It is the custom of
Bengal.

In old Calcutta, 'Song Jatra' (সং যাত্রা) was very popular. The song
of Kasaripara, Khidderpur, Benepukur, Jelepara was very famous.

Kasaripara was the area of north Kolkata where Baranasi Ghosh Street
is now. The utensils made of metal 'kangsa' were used to make there.
The song of Kasaripara was initiated in the last part of nineteenth
century. And the organisers of song were famous kangsa trader Tarak
Pramanik and editor of 'Hindu Patriot' Krishnadas Paul. The speciality
of that song was the horse-driven chariot on which the song was
decorated. The chariot used to go through the roads of city. The car
named 'Katra'. But the 'song' had to abolish by the elite section of
the society as it was vulgar, according to them.

Song of Khiddirpur: On the third decade of twentieth century, song
jatra was performed at Khiddirpur area. That song jatra was used to
start from Manasa Tala and Narkel Bagan of Khiddirpur. For this
reason, it was named as song of M. Tala & N. Bagan. The song was used
to perform from the last day of Chaitra to second day of Boishakh. It
was the song of protests by lower-class people against the injustice
of upper-class people. That song was performed for about twenty years.
After that, it was abandoned.

'Song' of Taltala : It was used to start from the then Haari Para
(হাড়ি পাড়া). And now it is Doctor Lane. Many 'Sannyasi's of Gajon
used to take part in it too.

'Song' of Benepukur: It was used to start on the last day of Chaitra
from ancient Benepukur area (on the east of Nonapukur Tram Depot).
According to Purana, Lord Shiva was married to Neel Chandika at the
end of month Chaitra. The 'song jatra' of Benepukur was based on this
myth.

And finally the famous 'song' of Jelepara: It was one of the oldest
and longest 'song jatra' of Kolkata. A creek was used to flow from
Hooghly river through Waterloo Street, Wellington Square and Moulali.
Later, the creek was shut and the Creek Lane was formed instead. So
many fishermen used to live beside creek. Hence, it was called
Jelepara. In the year 1882, a song jatra was initiated by the
fishermen. Playwright Amritalal Basu and Dadathakur (Sharat Pandit)
used to write the songs for this 'song' too.


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A. B.