From shared Bonbibi worship to youth-led art and support for tiger widows, Sundarbans communities reveal how faith, culture and empathy sustain life amid climate risk and forest-based survival struggles today.
As rhythmic verses rise and fall in a small riverside village on the edge of the Sundarbans (mangrove forest area in the Ganges Delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal), men and women sit in a quiet circle, listening with folded hands. This is more than ritual or storytelling; it is a prayer for survival.
The gathering took place in Charamukha village of Koyra upazila, where forest-dependent families observed the annual worship of Bonbibi, a folk deity revered as the guardian of the Sundarbans. She is believed to protect fishers, honey collectors and woodcutters from dangers such as tigers, crocodiles and sudden death.
Bonbibi is worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims, making her a rare symbol of shared faith. Local belief holds that the forest responds to moral balance: those who enter with humility and restraint receive protection, while greed invites danger. Her image is accompanied by figures from her folklore, including a tiger effigy representing Dakshin Rai, a powerful forest spirit whom Bonbibi restrains to protect humans.
For generations, communities along the forest frontier have turned to Bonbibi for safety and livelihood. Each year, during the first week of the Bengali month of Magh, villages across the Sundarbans region organize Bonbibi puja and fairs before the peak forest-working season.
In Charamukha, South Bedkashi Union, devotees gathered at the shrine to hear puthi path, the rhythmic recitation of the sacred folk text Bonbibi Jahuranama, which narrates her origins, compassion and protection of the vulnerable. Outside, a modest fair featured food stalls, toys and traditional crafts, drawing visitors from nearby villages.
Bhola Nath Majhi, president of the Charamukha Bonbibi Temple, said, “Bonbibi gives us courage. People pray so that those who enter the forest return safely. This worship has continued here since 1283 in the Bengali calendar.” Subhash Chandra Mondol, a local forest-dependent labourer, added, “We grow up with this faith. We believe the forest listens to Bonbibi. Her blessings help us survive.”
Historically, shrines were built deep inside the forest, but increasing risks have moved worship to the village edge. Historian Satish Chandra Mitra documented Bonbibi-related traditions in the 16th century, and Prof MA Aziz of Jahangirnagar University notes that the legend evolved between the 13th and 18th centuries, shaped by local beliefs and Sufi traditions.
Alongside reverence for Bonbibi, the Sundarbans also reflect harsh realities. When men are killed by tigers during fishing, honey collection or woodcutting, their wives often become tiger widows, facing grief, economic insecurity and social stigma. Many are excluded from decision-making and community life.
Loss is not only economic. Widows also experience trauma and the erosion of cultural practices linked to forest livelihoods. As traditions and rituals tied to the Sundarbans decline, the cultural fabric of these communities weakens.
Youth-led initiatives like YouthNet Global’s EcoMen programme are supporting tiger widows by engaging men and boys through a caring masculinity approach. Participants learn empathy, challenge harmful gender norms and share responsibility for the well-being of women.
In Shyamnagar, Satkhira, EcoMen conducts listening campaigns where men and boys hear directly from widows about their experiences and challenges. These sessions are paired with community art projects, transforming stories into vibrant murals across the town. The murals celebrate resilience and spark conversations about gender equality, climate vulnerability and shared community responsibility.
The Tiger Widow initiative documents women whose husbands lost their lives to Royal Bengal tigers, using art, storytelling and a climate justice lens to highlight the human cost of environmental change and wildlife conflict. Under the Connection through Culture programme, the team conducted fieldwork and audio storytelling, listening closely to women like Sonamoni in Shyamnagar, Satkhira district.
“After my husband was killed by a tiger, I felt completely abandoned. People avoid me and life became much harder,” she said. Reflecting further, Sonamoni added, “Even though I lost my husband one after another to tigers, I still see the forest like a mother. We survive because the Sundarbans exist. Without it, we could not endure this life. Just because the tigers took my husband’s does not mean I will harm them. The tigers live and that is why the Sundarbans live.”
The project’s first private listening event was held at the Manchester Museum, showing that local voices can resonate globally without losing authenticity. British Council Bangladesh supported the initiative, with YouthNet Global and Ergon Theatre helping create spaces for these narratives. Miss Earth Bangladesh 2021 Umme Zamilatun Naima ensured that women’s stories were shared with dignity and care.
Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of YouthNet Global, reflected, “This work taught us that real climate leadership begins with presence, empathy and listening to those most affected.”
For communities living at the forest’s edge, Bonbibi is not just a deity but a symbol of resilience, coexistence and moral guidance. Alongside youth-led social change and initiatives to support tiger widows, her worship reflects an enduring struggle to harmonise human survival with the natural world.
Through faith, storytelling, art and youth leadership, the Sundarbans community demonstrates that cultural tradition and climate action are inseparable. In the face of rising salinity, cyclones and human-wildlife conflict, Bonbibi’s legacy reminds us that survival in vulnerable landscapes depends not only on protection but also on empathy, solidarity and shared responsibility.
