The Sundarban, a vast mangrove situated in the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers, is home to a rich tapestry of culture and traditions, among them, a centuries-old folk theatre form and the worship of Bon Bibi, a forest goddess. This unique cultural narrative has not only helped the local inhabitants survive in harmony with nature but also understand its potency and respect the boundaries of human needs.
About Bon Bibi
Bon Bibi is a deity venerated in the dense forests of Sundarban. Her story and reverence are deeply interwoven into the local culture, mainly depicted through Bon Bibir Palagaan, a distinctive musical drama native to the region. The landscape of Sundarban is adorned with shrines devoted to Bon Bibi and her twin brother Shah Jongoli, manifesting their significance in the area. The primary followers of this deity include fishermen, crab-collectors, and honey-gatherers who coexist in the mangroves with wild animals, such as tigers and crocodiles, to earn a livelihood. Their faith in Bon Bibi’s protection is so profound that they believe they can safely enter the forest, even areas dominated by tigers, under her protection.
Bon Bibir Palagaan
This deep-rooted belief in Bon Bibi is eloquently expressed through Bon Bibir Palagaan, a dramatic form of storytelling performed throughout the island. These performances are traditionally held near Bon Bibi temples or villages on the periphery of the forests. It’s through these enactments that the spiritual connection between the islanders and Bon Bibi is reinforced and passed down generations.
Significance of Bon Bibi Worship
The worship of Bon Bibi comes with an unwritten code of conduct, believed to have originated from the deity herself. This code discourages islanders from carrying guns or weapons into the forest. It dictates that the forest should only be entered for essential livelihood needs and that only the required amount of resources— be it honey, crabs, fish, or prawns— should be taken. This code further promotes environmental consciousness by instructing the locals not to pollute the forest by smoking, defecating, or washing utensils. As per local lore, those who disobey these divine decrees, such as poachers and pirates, face the wrath of tigers as punishment.
About Sundarban
The Sundarban, a mangrove area sprawling from the Hooghly River in India’s West Bengal state to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh, is among the world’s largest active delta regions, measuring about 40,000 sq km. Its global importance has been recognized through various accolades like being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and being accorded the status of a ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention in 2019. The Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (National Park) also features as an Important Bird Area under BirdLife International. This biodiverse area is home to many rare and globally threatened wildlife species such as the estuarine crocodile, royal Bengal tiger, Water monitor lizard, gangetic dolphin, and olive ridley turtle. Besides, Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary, a part of Sundarban, is renowned for its rare bird sightings.