Simlapal royal family's Chanchar Festival
The Divine Abode of Lord Krishna and Balaram
It is said that the king of Simlapal, following divine guidance, established a temple for Lord Balaram within his royal palace premises. The stones for the temple were brought from the nearby village of Jorisha. A few months later, the king came to know that Lord Balaram would not stay alone. Therefore, he brought Lord Krishna and installed Him alongside Lord Balaram. Since then, both Krishna and Balaram have been worshiped there together.
The Chanchar Festival is celebrated on the night before Dol Purnima (Holi), where idols of Radha-Krishna or Krishna and Balarama are placed on a choudal (a decorated palanquin) and taken on a grand procession around the village or town. Devotees accompany the procession with nama sankirtan (devotional singing), offering prayers and food (naivedya) to the deities as they stop in front of each household. It is believed that during this procession, the deities visit every devotee's home to bless them.
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The Chanchara Festival was an integral part of the Simlapal royal family's Dol celebrations in the Bankura district of West Bengal, India. Traditionally, Krishna and Balarama were carried on a choudal by devotees and taken on a night-long journey through the streets of Simlapal two days before Dol. The procession was illuminated with hurricane/Petromax lamps (hazak lights), and crowds of people joined in to witness the grandeur. The festivities filled the air with colors and joy even before the main Dol celebration began. However, for the past two decades, this elaborate tradition has been significantly scaled down. The deities are now carried only a few hundred meters from the royal palace to a nearby atchala (a traditional pavilion), keeping the custom alive in a limited way.
Earlier, the Chanchara Festival was a source of great excitement not just for the people of Simlapal but also for those from the neighboring Jarisha village. Roads were cleaned and sprinkled with water, and makeshift altars made of brick and clay were set up outside houses to welcome the deities. These altars were decorated with alpana (traditional motifs) and sprinkled with colored powder (abir). Mango leaves were strung across streets, creating a festive atmosphere.
The Chanchara procession began after sunset. On the first evening, Krishna and Balarama toured the streets of Simlapal, and on the next day, they visited Jarisha village. Devotees welcomed the deities with haridhwani (chants of "Hari Bol") and performed rituals at their homes. The grand procession featured hurricane/Petromax lamps (hazak lights), , groups singing nama sankirtan, and, in later years, brass bands.
Carrying the choudal was a privilege reserved for Utkala Brahmins, but people from all communities joined the procession with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the tradition of taking the deities on house-to-house visits and village tours has now been discontinued. These days, nama sankirtan is performed on Dol, and devotees play with colors, smearing abir on Krishna and Balarama's idols.
As time progresses, many such traditions have faded into history, leaving behind cherished memories for older generations and stories of heritage for the younger ones.
हरिभक्तः।
हरिभक्तो न कामयते पदवीं, न कामयते सम्मानं।
निष्कामप्रेमप्लावितनेत्रः हरिमयः तस्य प्राणः।
न वादो न विवादोऽस्ति, एकान्तमेव तस्य प्रियम्।
न शिखा न तिलकं तस्य, हरिप्रेमैव तस्य बलम्।
হরিভক্তঃ।
ভক্তো ন কাময়তে পদবীং, ন কাময়তে সম্মানং।
নিষ্কামপ্রেমপ্লাবিতনেত্রঃ হরিময় তস্য প্রাণঃ।
ন বাদো ন বিবাদোऽস্তি, একান্তমেব তস্য প্রিয়ম্।
ন শিখা ন তিলকং তস্য, হরিপ্রেমৈব তস্য বলম্।
ईश्वरस्य समीपे जीवप्रार्थना ।
(मुक्तछन्दः)
शक्तिप्रार्थना:
इत्थं शक्तिं प्रदेहि श्रीनाथ,
मा नः श्रद्धा क्षणमपि क्षीयताम्।
सत्पथे नय जीवनपन्थानं,
मा नः स्खलनं भवतु किञ्चन॥
ज्ञानप्रार्थना:
अज्ञानतिमिरं पूर्णं नाशय,
ज्ञानदीपप्रभया विभासय।
पापमार्गात् सदा रक्ष नः,
कल्याणीं जीवनविधिं प्रयच्छ॥
सद्भावप्रार्थना:
नास्तु वैरं कस्यचिदपि,
नास्तु प्रतिशोधभावना मनसि।
न चिन्तयेम वयं स्वलाभकम्,
सदा स्मरामः कृतमर्पणम्॥
करुणाप्रार्थना:
आनन्दपुष्पाणि वयं वितराम,
सर्वेषां जीवनमेतु मधुवनम्।
करुणाजलधारया जगन्नाथ,
पावय सर्वं मनसः कोणकम्॥
लोकदुःखनिवारणप्रार्थना:
दुःखमयं सर्वतोऽयं जगत्,
त्रस्तमानसो जनः कम्पितः।
पापभारो वर्धते नित्यशः,
कथं धरा धृतवती प्रभो॥
ममताप्रार्थना:
ममतया भगवन् भारमेतं
उद्धर त्वं करुणासिन्धो।
मा लुप्यतां तव सृष्टिरियम्,
शान्तिर्लोके भवतु स्थिरा॥
आत्मशुद्धिप्रार्थना :
स्वकृतं फलमश्नुयाम वयं,
मृत्योरपि नः भयं मा अस्तु।
अतीतदुःखं न पुनर्भवेत्,
भविष्यत् कल्याणमयं कुरु नाथ॥
अन्तिम ध्रुवपदः
इत्थं शक्तिं प्रदेहि श्रीनाथ,
मा नः श्रद्धा क्षणमपि क्षीयताम्।
सत्पथे नय जीवनपन्थानं,
मा नः स्खलनं भवतु किञ्चन॥
The king sits not as lord of men,
But servant of the Highest One;
His crown is duty, pure and bright,
His sword is justice, truth, and right.
Not through chaos, force, nor pride
Should any king ascend and ride;
For power born of wrongful ways
Will never bless nor hold his days.
No fraud for self, no might for greed,
No gain for kin or household's need;
A king must never feed his home
By kindling lies or wrongful flame.
Instead, he bows with humble heart,
A servant of the Lord apart;
His people's care his sacred vow,
His rule is righteousness, and love.
He guards the weak, upholds the true,
Gives justice equal through and through;
For in his heart one thought remains
“The Lord of all o’er all reigns.”
Such rulers bless the earth they guide,
Their reign brings peace on every side;
Where kings serve God in mind and deed,
The land shall flourish, rich indeed.
