Religious rituals are something that has been seen by most of us in some form or the other. But several of those involving extreme pain inducing activities have been lesser known or witnessed. These rituals that have been practiced since ancient times in the country are still being kept alive to this day.

Currently, we have finished shooting the second part of the film by capturing the event of Charak Puja in Thakurnagar village,North 24 Paraganas district & Lahariya village, Purulia district of West Bengal. 

These Hindu festivals are mainly celebrated on the last two days of the month of Chaitra. This period is known as Chaitra Sankranti. It is belives that this time the Sun will enter Pisces sign. Chaitra Sankranti begins on middle of April of every year; it is the last day of bengali Chaitra month. People observe fast during this period devoting themselves to their God. The most fascinating part of Gajan Festival is Charak Puja. The tradition of Charak Puja is all about worshipping the Charak tree and the several self-punishment acts performed by Charak Sanyasis around and on the tree. 

A Charak Tree is actually the trunk of a tree without any roots or branches. The height is around 30 to 40 feet. The Sanyasis perform their penance acts on the tree and is duly wrapped up into the river & suspend their bodies through metal hooks onto a tree and rotate themselves in mid-air.  This tree is believed to be the abode of Ardhanarishwar (composite form of Shiva and Parvati).

 

We are in pursuit of documenting these acts in various regions of the country. This film is a set of chapters capturing people from different states of the country practicing painful rituals.
Through this psychographic enquiry, we aim to build on the existing discourse over human understanding and responses to pain and suffering, especially in a religious context.