Charak Puja or Neel Pooja, also known as Hajrha Puja, is observed in mainly in Bengal and Bangladesh on the last day of Bengali Chaitra month. Charak Pooja day is also popular as Chaitra Songkranti. Charak Puja 2010 date is April 14. In some places, Neel Puja is performed on April 13, 2010. This puja is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees celebrate this festival to satisfy or please Lord Shiva in order to be blessed with happiness and prosperity.
A group of people from villages go to other villages to collect the necessary items like paddy, oil, sugar, salt, honey, money and other material with the arranged cosmetics like Shiva, Parvati, and Narod. The cosmetic Shiva is termed as ‘Neel Pagol’ or ‘Jal Katha’. Devotees worship Lord Shiva throughout the night and distribute Prasod.
Next day to Charak Puja is celebrated as Poila Baisakh or Bengali New Year or Nabo Barsha in Bengal.
Annapurna Puja is observed during Chaitra Navratri or Basant Navratri especially in West Bengal. Goddess Annapurna is known as the deity of food and nutrition in Hinduism. In 2010, Annapurna Puja date is March 23rd, 2010. The pooja date falls during Chait Navaratri as per traditional Bengali calendar.
Annapurna Puja festival is mainly observed by women. The important rituals and customs during Annapoorna Pooja day include – recitation of Annapurna Devi Stotram and observance of fast. In some places people worship Annapoorna Mata by installing idols and by setting up pooja mandap. All other rituals and customs are performed as per traditions.
Devotees who worship of Goddess Annapurneshwari will be blessed with prosperity and health. Women worship Annapurneshwari Devi for their better married life. They also perform Annapurneswari Pooja for their children’s health and better growth. Annapurna Ashtakam is the important prayer to chant during Annapurna Puja.
It is to note that in North India, Annapurna Puja is observed on Annapurna Jayanti which falls on Margasirsh Purnima, the Full Moon day in Margashira month. It is one of the major festivals in Kasi Annapurna Temple.
Shri Chaitanya Jayanti or the birth anniversary of Chaitanya mahaprabhu is observed on Phalgun Purnima, the Full Moon day in Falguna month. In 2010, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Jayanthi date is February 28, 2010. This festival is also known as Gaura Purnima. Chaitanya Jayanti is celebrated all over India mainly in Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is popularly known as Gauranga.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a monk and social reformer in Eastern India in the16th century. He is believed as the incarnation of Lord Krishna by the followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. During his time, he worshipped Lord Krishna and Radha and popularized the chanting of Hare Krishna maha mantra. Chaitanyha Mahaprabhu is also known as Nimai due to his being born underneath a Neem tree.
Gaura Purnima is celebrated with utmost gaiety and pomp in Mayapur Temple and ISKCON Temples all around the world.
Bengal is the land of devotion and spirituality. There is a huge list of Bengali Hindu festivals celebrated throughout the year. Here in this article, only major and important festivals to celebrate in 2010 are given. The major Bengali festivals in a year are – Saraswati Puja, Basanti Puja, Annapurna Puja, Krishnashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Mahalaya, Durga Puja, Sharad Purnima Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, Kali Puja on Diwali, Kartik Puja, etc.
Bengali Festivals in January 2010
- Makara Sankranti or Poush Sankranti or Pongal – January 14
- Saraswati Puja 2010 – January 20
- Ratha Saptami – January 22
- Maghi Purnima – January 30
Bengali Festivals in February 2010
- Maha Shivaratri 2010 – February 12, 2010
- Magh Amavasya 2010 – February 13
- Ramakrishna Jayanti or birthday of Ramakrishna – February 16, 2010
- Holi 2010 – Dolyatra 2010 – February 28
Bengali Festivals in March 2010
- Basanti Puja 2010 – March 22
- Annapurna Puja 2010 – march 23
- Ram Navami 2010 – March 24
- Chaitra Purnima – March 30
Bengali Festivals in April 2010
- Neel Puja of Lord Shiva – April 13
- Charak Puja – April 14
- Bangali Naba Barsa 2010 – Bengali New Year 2010 – Poila Baisakh 2010 – April 15, 2010
- Purnima – April 28, 2010
Bengali Festivals in May 2010
- Akshaya Tritiya 2010 – May 16, 2010
- Buddha Purnima – May 27
Bengali Festivals in June 2010
- Jamai Sasthi –June 17, 2010
- Ganga Dasahara – June 21, 2010
- Jagannnath Snan Yatra – Purnima – June 26, 2010
Bengali festivals in July 2010
- Jagannath Rath Yatra 2010 – July 13
- Bipadtarini Brata – July 17th – 20th
- Rath Ponar Yatra – Return journey of Jagannath Rathyatra 2010 – July 20, 2010
- Guru Purnima 2010 – July 25
Bengali Festivals in August 2010
- Nag Panchami 2010 – August 14
- Manasa Puja – August 14, 2010
- Jhulan yatra 2010 – August 23
- Rakhi Purnima 2010 – Raksha Bandhan – August 24
Bengali Festivals in September 2010
- Sri Krishna Janmashtami 2010 – September 1, 2010 – Krishna Jayanti or Krishnashtami
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2010 – September 12
- Vishwakarma Puja 2010 – September 17
Bengali Festivals in October 2010
- Mahalaya 2010 – October 7, 2010 – Pitru Shraddh Tharpan 2010
- Navratri 2010 begins – 8 October
- Durga Puja 2010 – 13th October to 17th October
- Durga Puja Sasthi 2010 – 13 October
- Durga Puja Maha Saptami 2010 – 14 October
- Durga Puja Mahashtami 2010 – 15 October
- Mahami Nabami Durga puja 2010 – 16 October
- Durga Puja Bijoya Dasami 2010 – 17 October
- Kojagari Lakshmi Puja 2010 – 21 October – Sharad Poornima
Bengali Festivals in November 2010
- Kali Puja 2010 – 5th November – Diwali 2010 – Maha Amavasya
- Bhai Phonta 2010 – 7th November – Bhai Dooj
- Chhat Puja 2010 – 12th November
- Jagadhatri Puja 2010 – 15th November – Jagaddatri Navami
- Kartik Puja 2010 – 17th November – Kartik Ekadashi
- Sri Krishna Raas Yatra 2010 – 21st November
