Dhaka Bureau: Today is Chaitra Sankranti in Bengal. Chaitra, the last month of the Bengali year, is the last day of spring. ‘Let the worn-out old float away; let the gloom be erased—in such deep love, the night is a new day. Revealing the eastern horizon, the soft light of dawn will color the past, dreams, and expectations. The New Year will be ushered in with new possibilities. The ‘Rabi Kar’ that rose to reveal the eastern horizon today, Thursday morning, is the last sunrise of Bangabd 1429. Sankranti rises from one kranti to another kranti.
This last day of Chaitra, the concluding month of Bengal, is the ‘Chaitrasankranti’ of traditional Bengali ritual. The Bengali Hindu community observes Divanishi on the last day of the Bengali month by bathing, donating, vowing, and fasting according to scriptures and folklore. Basically, women who believe in Lokachar observe the vow for the well-being of their husbands, families, agriculture, and businesses. According to the ritual, the business community celebrates the farewell festival on this day. The shops want to wash away all the dirt and impurities of the past year. Because the new book of business accounting will be opened after the night. The well-known name of that festival is ‘Halkhata’. At that festival, the commercial establishments are kept clean, and the fragrance of incense keeps the atmosphere of the house heavy. According to custom, this day is considered auspicious for collecting dues from customers throughout the year. Chadak Puja is the biggest event of Chaitra Sankranti. Throughout the month of Chaitra, monks observe fasting, almsgiving, etc. On the day of Sankranti, they hang on the chadak tree in the form of shulphoda, banaphoda, and barashigantha. Walks on fire. People of all castes and religions come and gather at the Charkamela-Gajon fair to watch the physical exercise. Names of various Hindu mythological and secular deities are associated with the fair. Such as Shiva’s Gajan, Dharma’s Gajan, Neel’s Gajan, etc. However, new elements are being added to the celebration of Chaitra Sankranti.
Meanwhile, the small ethnic groups celebrate the Vaisabi festival on this day. In various arrangements, the festival of Chaitra Sankranti is knocking at the door at the same time as Pahela Boishakh. When the night ends, it’s a new day, but it’s not just a new day; it’s also a new year. New year’s decorations are going up everywhere to welcome Baisakh.
According to folklore, the Chaitra month of the Bengali calendar was named after Tikra Nakshatra. According to the Puranas, Daksha Raja named his beautiful daughters after the twenty-seven Nakshatras. His two daughters are Chitra and Visakha, respectively. Bengali two months were born from the names of these two daughters as they were born one month apart: Chaitra and Boishakh, respectively. The end of Chaitra and the beginning of Baisakh The most magnificent festival of Sanatan Bengalis is celebrated on these two days.
