Gangeswar temple comes alive with Patua Nacha

SALEPUR: Come Maha Bisuva Sankranti, thousands throng Gangeswar temple of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati at Matanagar under Mirjapur gram panchayat to participate in the Patua Yatra.The Yatra, an annual event, is said to be  400 years old and famous for Patua Nacha. The dance - presented here is in four forms such as Charki Patua, Kanta Patua, Khanda Patua and Agni Patua - attracts devotees from far and near.Different rituals are followed for separate dance forms. In Charki Patua, two Patuas are hung from the hooks suspended from the two sides of a wheel supported on a pillar, which is continuously rotated. The Kanta Patuas have to lie on thorny bushes with the priest walking on their back. While Khanda Patuas dance over swords, the Agni Patuas walk over a bed of burning charcoal, which is 20 to 30 feet in length. The participants, called Patuas, are usually those who have taken a vow to participate in the dance for the fulfilment of their wishes. There is no caste bar.The participants arrive at Gangeswar temple five days prior to the Maha Bisuva Sankranti and observe many rituals for purification of body and mind. For the first three days, they have to only eat rice boiled in milk and observe fast two days prior to the day of festival. These two days are popularly called Masanta and Sankranti.On the day of the festival, the sound of dholas and mahuris fill the atmosphere. With the Patuas dancing to the tunes, the atmosphere becomes charged. There is also a special attire for the Patuas. They can only wear saffron, red and yellow colour skirts. Irrespective of their caste, they also have to wear a sacred thread during the festival.  At the end of the festival, the Patuas take a holy dip in a pond popularly called Patua Pokhari at Dharmagatpur.