The geographical location, varied topography, physiography,
flora and most importantly the fauna of this area has given rise to some
popular beliefs and cultures among the population. Before learning about the
folk, rituals and cultures of the place, we must know and understand the
natural attributes and geographical features and barriers of the land.
"The Sundarbans (Bengali: সুন্দরবন, Shundorbôn) is a natural region in
the Bengal region comprising Eastern India and Bangladesh. It is the largest
single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. The Sundarbans
covers approximately 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi) of which 60 percent
is in Bangladesh with the remainder in India.The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site."
The name of the area 'sundarban' literally means and
translates into 'Beautiful forest" in Bengali script. The most accepted
view is that the name is derived from the 'sundari' trees, a species of
mangrove that are found here in large numbers.
The mangrove-dominated Gangetic Delta – the Sundarbans – is
a complex ecosystem comprising one of the three largest single tracts of
mangrove forests of the world. Situated mostly in Bangladesh, a small portion
of it lies in India.
The Sundarban forest lies in the vast delta on the Bay of
Bengal formed by the super confluence of the Ganges, Padma,Brahmaputra and
Meghna rivers across southern Bangladesh. The seasonally flooded Sundarbans
freshwater swamp forests lie inland from the mangrove forests on the coastal
fringe. The forest covers 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi) of which about
6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq mi) are in Bangladesh. It became inscribed as
a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997. The Sundarbans is intersected by a
complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant
mangrove forests. The interconnected network of waterways makes almost every
corner of the forest accessible by boat. The area is known for the eponymous
Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), as well as numerous fauna
including species of birds, spotted deer, crocodiles and snakes.
The land of the Sundarbans can be divided into two
Ecoregions: Sundarbans fresh water swamp forests and Sundarbans mangroves.
This area presents a wide range of flora and fauna. The
Sundarbans provides a unique ecosystem and a rich wildlife habitat, which is
rich with predators, avifauna, aquafauna, reptiles etc.
Coming down to the important part is the economy of the
area. People of this region depends mainly on natural resources for their daily
livelihood. The forest provides raw materials for wood based industries. In
addition to traditional forest produce like timber, fuelwood, pulpwood etc.,
large scale harvest of non-wood forest products such as thatching materials,
honey, bees-wax, fish, crustacean and mollusc resources of the forest takes
place regularly. Therefore, even if for their daily income or to live in such a
land where people can meet their death in every turnings of the roads, where
fear dominates any other feelings, in such a situation a godly figure became
necessary to fend off their own fears. this is when Ma Bonbibi, a multicultural
goddess came into being. In the land of
the Sunderbans, ruled by tigers, tides, and the uncertainties of nature, there
is a unique tradition of conservation and communal harmony. It is based on the
villagers’ unflinching faith in Maa Bonbibi (forest deity) who is believed to
bestow them with strength and protection against Raja Dakshinrai (tiger god) as
they struggle to eke out a living in the mangrove swamps.
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| Satellite image of the Sundarbans. |
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