The Sundarbans is a region spread in the Ganges delta on the border of India and Bangladesh. It is the largest marshy forest in the world.Sundarbans in Bangla language means beautiful forest.There are hundreds of islands in the Sundarbans spread over 10 thousand square kilometres. The dense forest spread over the marshy area has a wide variety of animals. Here 50 species of mammals, 315 types of birds and 315 types of reptiles are found. However, the Sundarbans are most famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger. Many times,it attacks the people living here and takes life too.Every year around 60 people fall prey to the Royal Bengal Tiger. Nevertheless, humans and these ferocious animals have lived together in the Sundarbans for centuries.
Their faith unites the villagers of Sundarbans against all these dangers. This faith is towards a goddess. There are Hindus as well as Muslims. All the people of Sundarbans bow towards this goddess before they travel towards the jungles. This goddess of the Hindu-Muslims of Sundarbans is known as Bonbibi.When animals attack, they do not differentiate between Hindus and Muslims. That is why people of both the communities worship Bonbibi here. She is called the patron goddess of the Sundarbans.She teaches them that when your need is fulfilled in the forest, then you return. Do not be tempted too much.
Both Hindus and Muslims believe that Bonbibi was sent from heaven to the earth for their protection. It is also famous in the Sundarbans that Bonbibi was born in a Muslim family. When she went to Mecca for Haj, she got divine power. After this, she travelled 5 thousand kilometres and came to Sundarbans from Saudi Arabia.Then Bonbibi reached Sundarbans.At that time, the deep dark jungle, known for its dangerous man-eater tigers, was ruled by a ghostly shrewd tyrant named 'Dakshin Rai' (the god of South). He is the one responsible for human sacrifices to tigers.Bonbibi defeated Dakshin Rai. Then he begged for forgiveness and promised that he would prevent tigers from attacking humans.Since then, Bonbibi became the ruler of Sundarbans. Dakshin Rai is believed to have fled into the jungles. He now takes the form of a tiger and attacks people.Dakshin Ray, known as the supreme lord of tigers, is widely worshipped throughout the whole of the Sundarbans in both parts of Bengal even today. He is usually seated upon a tiger and is often accompanied by his brother or companion Kalu Ray. Dakshin Ray is worshipped not only as the god of tigers but also as a divine curer.
In the Sundarbans, where death can come quickly, its inhabitants have worshipped Bonbibi and Dakshin Rai for centuries to seek protection from the dangers of the forests.
