Simlapal royal family's Chanchar Festival
Chanchar Festival:-
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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| Hare Krishna Hare Rama |
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 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 lamps, 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.
