THE MISERABLE CONDITION OF ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN LUMDING

PWD means Public Works Department.

Lumding is a small town situated in the Nagaon districts of Assam. But, surprisingly Lumding subdivision of PWD is under the Maibang division, which doesn't make any sense.

WILD FRUITS IN LUMDING

I was wandering near the girl's wing of Railway H.S. School, Lumding, suddenly I saw those plants on the sides of the large drain. Of course, they are not edible, I mean those ripened fruits in the photo. They are wild plants, but they are photogenic enough to be snapped. It is one of my favourite photographs till now. Don't you think it is lovely? If you really love this photo then plz make a comment!

LUMDING, BMB SCHOOL FIELD & CHARAK PUJA:

 

Agricultural land in Lumding

Nagaon is the largest district in Assam and Lumding is the second largest urban settlement. It is a railway township having substantial amounts of Civilian Population. The town is multi-ethnic by nature. Bengali migrants, Assamese Communities, Marwari & Punjabi businessmen, Bihari labour force, Nepali farmers and sustantial percentage of indigeneous tribes like Karbis, Rabhas and Ahoms are the main constituents of the mixed population of Lumding, although more than 70% of the population consists of Hindu Bengali legal migrants who were once brought here by British Raj to work in the Railway services. When these Bengali had settled here, they brought various local festivals along with them. In lumding, the dominant local goddes is the "Ma Shitla Debi" and the 2nd is "Gajan" or "Charak Puja".


CHARAK PUJA:

                                                                                                                                                           

CHARAK PUJA IN THE BMB SCHOOL'S FIELD: IT IS HELD AT THE LAST DAY OF BENGALI YEAR, LAST DAY OF THE MONTH CHOITRA. Normally it is either on 14th or 15th April every year.

Charak Puja is a very enchanting folk festival of Southern Belt of Bangladesh and West Bengal. It is also known as "Nil Puja". The believers of Hindu religion celebrate this on the last day of Chaitra (Chaitra Songkranti). They believe that it will carry prosperity for them eliminating the sorrow and sufferings of the previous year. The festival is actually a festival to satisfy "Lord Shiva", the great "Debadideb" of Hindu Religion. Though the festival takes place on the mid night of Chaitra Songkranti, the preparation phase usually starts before one month of the day. The arrangement team of the festival go from village to village to procure the necessary components like paddy, oil, sugar, salt, honey, money etc. with the arranged and cosmetic Shiva, Parvati, Narod etc. The cosmetic Shiva is locally called "Nil Pagol" or "Jal Katha". On midnight of the Songkranti, the worshippers are gathered together to worship the God and after Puja the "Prosad" is distributed. Somewhere it is also known as "Hajrha Puja". The woman in this day don't take meal before Puja. Sometimes in this festival a human "Charak" is made ready to satisfy the Lord Shiva. The "Charak" is tied with a hook (Borshi) at his back and then he is moved round around a bar with a long rope. Though it is risky, they arrange it.

In Bangladesh it is frequently found to take place at Galachip Upzilla of Patuakhali District. Goalkhali, Gabua, Haridebpur, Lalua, Lohalia etc. villages are well known for "Charak Puja". Though the aristocracy and fluency of the festival is being deemed now, there are some who are arranging it every year with great devotion and dedication. It is a part of their life. May the festival be sustain long.

"A SCENE FROM THE RITUAL PERFORMED DURING CHARAK PUJA IN THE BMB SCHOOL FIELD LUMDING ON THE LAST DAY OF A BENGALI YEAR. THE DAY IS CALLED AS "CHOITRA SANKRANTI" IN BENGALI. CHARAK PUJA IS THE CELEBRATION DEVOTED TO SHIVA-SHAKTI, A RITUAL OF HINDU SHAIVAITES AND SHAKTAS."