SOUNG OF GAJAN

On 13th April , Bengalis celebrate “Neel Puja”. This puja or worship is done mainly by married woman who fast throughout the day and pour milk over the “Shiva Lingam” at a nearby Shiva Temple. The Puja is done to please the lord and get his blessings for her husband and children. There are many interpretations of “Neel Puja”. The most predominant is the celebration of marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati. Shiva is considered to be Neel here, which is supposed to have been derived from one of his name “NeelKantha” (one having a blue coloured throat). Some refer it as “Neel Shasthi” too. Now in Kolkata many household celebrate this as “Neel Sasthi”. In this case a additional worship of a local deity named “Sasthi” is worshiped too. Sasthi is a Goddess who symbolizes betterment of Women, specially of their children both existing and unborn. The deity is made out of mashed paste of wet rice grains. She is accompanied with a cat and six children
During Charak people dress up as Cosmetic Shiva, Parvati, Krishna and other deities. Usually Rajbangshi caste of persons is allowed to do such acts. They are locally known as “Soung of Gajan” (Soung in Bengali means jester).The word gajan in Bengali comes from the word garjan or roar generated by sannyasis during the festivities. Alternative theory says it is from the from two word Ga (village) and Jan ( Village), indicating festival of the people.They go door to door to perform dance and song in the afternoon.

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