Bon Bibi UPSC | Why In The News ?
Why the Sundarbans has unwavering faith in Bon Bibi — a forest deity with a stage presence
About Bon Bibi :- Bonbibi, the lady of the forest, is a guardian spirit of the forests venerated by both the Hindu and the Muslim residents of the Sundarbans – spread across West Bengal and Bangladesh. Â
- She is called upon mostly by the honey-collectors and the woodcutters before entering the forest for protection against the attacks from the tigers. Â
- People express their belief in Bon Bibi through Bon Bibir Palagaan – a dramatic storytelling form that is enacted throughout the island. Â
- The BonBibi faith is a check on human greed and acquisition. Â
- An unwritten code prohibits islanders from carrying guns or weapons into the forest. Â
- They must enter the forest only if they absolutely need to earn a livelihood and not take more honey or crabs, fish or prawns than they need. Â
- According to local lore, poachers, pirates and those who disobey BonBibi are attacked by tigers as punishment.Â
Bon Bibir Pala Gaan:Â
- People express their belief in Bon Bibi through Bon Bibir Palagaan, a dramatic storytelling form that is enacted throughout the island.
- Traditionally, the performances are held near Bon Bibi temples or villages bordering the forests.
About Sundarbans :
- The Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
- It spans from the Hooghly River in India’s state of West Bengal to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh.
- The active delta region is among the largest in the world, measuring about 40,000 sq km.
- India’s Sundarban was declared as a UNESCO’S World Heritage site in 1987.
- Sunderban Wetland has been accorded the status of ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under Ramsar Convention in 2019.
Source – Indian Express, The Hindu & Google NewsÂ
