Ready for Patua Yatra

Come Maha Bisuva Sankranti in Baisakh, Devotees throng Gangaswar temple of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati at Matanagar under Mirjapur gram panchayata to participate in the Patua Yatra.

The Yatra, an annual event, is said to have originated here some400 years back and is famous for its Patua nacha. The dance presented here is in four different forms – Charki Patua, Kanta Patua, Khanda Patua and Agni Patua.

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 on a pillar, which is continuously rotated. The Kanta Patua have to lie on thorny bushes with the priest walking on their back. While Khanda Patua dances over swords, the Agni Patuas walk over a bed of burning charcoal, which is 20 to 30 feet in length.

The participants or dancers, called Patuas, are usually those who have vowed to participate in the dance for fulfilment of their wishes and there is no caste bar for participation. The Patuas arrive at Gangeswar temple five days prior to the Maha Bisuva Sankranti and observe many rituals which are meant for “purification” of body and mind.

During the dance, the Patuas are said to be transported to a spiritually enchanted state, called Kalisi. During the festival, people invite these dancers to their homes to seek their blessings.

At the end of the festival, the Patuas take a holy dip in “Patua Pokhari” at Dharmghatpur.

by Arbinda Panda