SALEPUR: Patua Yatra during Maha Bisuva Sankranti continues to attract people to Gangeswar temple at Matanagar in Mirjapur gram panchayat under Salepur block.
The Yatra, an annual feature, is said to have originated here some 400 years ago and famous for Patua Nacha. Four forms of dances -- Charki Patua, Kanta Patua, Khanda Patua and Agni Patua -- are performed here.
Different rituals are followed for different dance forms. In Charki Patua, two patuas are hung from the hooks suspended from two sides of a wheel supported by a pillar, which is continuously rotated. The Kanta Patuas have to lie on thorny bushes with the priest walking on their back. While Khanda Patua is performed over swords, in Agni Patua, the performers walk over a bed of burning charcoal.
The participants, called Patuas are usually those who have taken a vow to participate in the dance for the fulfilment of their wishes. However, there is no caste bar. Those who want to participate in the dance have to arrive at Gangeswar temple five days prior to the Maha Bisuva Sankranti and observe many rituals for purification of body and mind.
On the first three days they have to eat only rice boiled in milk and observe fast two days prior to the festival. These two days are popularly known as Masanta and Sankranti.
They have a special attire for this festival. The Patuas can only wear saffron, red and yellow coloured cloths. They wear a crown made of cork and flower and hold a sacred stick. Irrespective of their caste, they also have to wear a sacred thread and adhere to the traditional costume.
At the end of the festival, the Patuas take a dip in a pond, popularly called Patua Pokhari at Dharmagatpur. There they immerse their sacred stick and thread and return to the temple to offer Bhog.