Gajan- A Folk Cultural of Rural Bengal
21/12/2018 Moumita Ghosh * Rich folk culture and traditional heritage have always been the most important part of Indian art and culture. The state West Bengal is also famous for some of its very indigenous folk culture, and ‘ Gajan ’ is one of them. It is a part of ' Charak ' festival observed on the occasion of the worship of the lord Shiva; as He is referred as the prime-mover. ' Gajan-gaan ' (' Gajan ' songs) originates in the heart of common people, and this expresses their social, religious and political status, demonstrating the history of class struggle, social stratification, and exploitation of marginal class by the upper class and political hegemony. 'Charak' ( PC Google ) Lord Shiva is imagined as a healthy, handsome person with a tiger skinned on, with a trident in the left hand and ‘ damru’ in the right. Preparation for ' Gajan' begins towards the end of ‘ Falgun ’ (March). The villagers begin to thrive with life and...