For more than 400 years, one of the most fascinating festivals of our country – the Charak Puja has been observed at a field adjacent to Burir Mandir in Dhamrai. But, breaking a century-old tradition, this year, the venue had to be shifted. Local politicians had put up borders around the old grounds according to locals. So the Puja had to move to a new ground.

The Charak Puja is a Hindu festival marking Chaitra Sankranti – the end of the last month of the Bangla year. The festival, which starts with traditional prayers and rituals at a temple, ends with one of most amazing displays of the human ability to endure pain.

As drums beat to a frantic rhythm and the crowd goes quiet. The rituals end, and the priest mark the back of Netai Sarker. The red marks where the hook will pierce his skin.