Volume II,Issue IV, March 2026
Volume-II, Issue-IV, March, 2026 |
Received: 24.03.2026 | Accepted: 26.03.2026 | ||
Published Online: 31.03.2026 | Page No: | ||
DOI: 10.69655/atmadeep.vol.2.issue.04W. | |||
বাংলা সাহিত্যে বাহা উৎসব ও আদিবাসী জীবনদর্শনে প্রকৃতি চেতনা: একটি সাংস্কৃতিক ও সাহিত্যতাত্ত্বিক পাঠ প্রতিমা হেম্ব্রম মান্ডি, স্বাধীন গবেষক, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Nature Consciousness in the Baha Festival and Tribal Worldview in Bengali Literature: A Cultural and Literary-Theoretical Study Pratima Hembram Mandi, Independent Research Scholar, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
This research paper analyzes the representation of the Baha
or flower festival of the Santhal and other indigenous communities in Bengali
literature, along with its inherent sense of nature consciousness. The festival
is not merely a folk ritual; rather, it constitutes a fundamental pillar of
indigenous worldview where nature and human life are inseparably intertwined.
Tribal festivals are not characterized by grandeur but by a deep emotional and
spiritual connection. They embody a harmonious relationship between life and
culture, and between culture and everyday practices. Through these festivals,
communities remember their ancestors and seek to ensure the well-being of both
present and future generations.
Tribal festivals can broadly be categorized into three types
based on their purpose: first, agrarian festivals; second, those related to the
elimination of evil or wrongdoing and associated with hunting practices; and
third, those that celebrate natural and mental beauty while welcoming nature
and aspiring for renewed life.
According to the Santhal belief system, the world is
permeated by Bonga—a spiritual force present in every element of existence,
whether visible or invisible, animate or inanimate. This force is limitless and
embodies supernatural power. As Bonga has no physical form, there are no
temples dedicated to it; instead, it is worshipped through natural elements
such as trees and stones, reflecting its omnipresence.
Using an eco-critical framework, this study explores how
this festival is represented in the works of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay,
Nalini Bera, Samaresh Basu, Nihar Ranjan Ray, Ganesh Devy, and Mahasweta Devi,
where it appears in diverse forms and dimensions.
The central argument of the study is that, in contrast to
modern capitalism, indigenous ecological consciousness offers an alternative
environmental philosophy rooted in harmony, sustainability, and coexistence
with nature. | ||
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