Entertainer of the Charak Puja collecting alms from a villager (photo)

Entertainer of the Charak Puja collecting alms from a villager, during 'Charak Puja' festival at Shah Para village, Tangail, Bangladesh on April 15, 2006. The festival is devoted to the deities Shiva and Sakti.The Charak Puja is well-known for the rites of piercing the body with nails, and swirling from a high pole. A 'charhak tree' is built on the occasion, consisting of a long pole atop which a wheel is fixed. An ascetic devotee is hung from this wheel with a hook. The wheel then spins around with him at high speed. Small nails, at times red hot ones, pierce all parts of his body including his tongue. The devotee thus spinning spreads prasad (handmade sweetmeats blessed with chants) among the curious spectators and onlookers. At the root of the celebration of Charhak Puja is a belief in spirits and the cult of rebirth. Its rites suggest ancient ritual of human sacrifice.