Author:

Dr.Sarbani Maity
Academic Counsellor
Department of Sociology
Srikrishna College
Bagula,West Bengal,India

Email: sarbanimaity9@gmail.com

Abstract::Tree worship was a regular practice of different ancient towns like- Bharhut, Ellora, Besnagar, Bodhagaya, Bhaja, Sanchi, Nagarjunakonda, Amarabati etc. Gradually, Indians started viewing trees as sensitive and animate object. This paper tries to explore the practice of tree worship among Mahishyas of Bahadurpur village of East Midnapore, West Bengal. People of West Bengal view different plant as “sacred” and regularly they worship those trees. They look them as different gods and goddesses. In some areas, when people see these trees, they identify some old trees amongst those and start worshipping them. Sometimes, for giving them some respect they wrap red bordered white saree around these and smeared vermilion on the trunk of these trees. These are also popular in Bahadurpur village of East Midnapore. There I have seen that in every household people have kept potted cactus tree beside their tulasi shrine.In this paper, I have discussed about few plants which are worshipping by the Mahishyas of Bahadurpur village of East Midnapore. I have prepared this paper on the basis of my field experience which I gathered from my field visit during mid-September 2018 to August 2019, April 2022 to May 2022 and August 2022 to October 2022. I have used techniques likenon-participant observation, narrative inquiry and photography for collecting data.

Key Words::Bahadurpur,Midnapur, Mahishya Community, Sacred Tree, Worship etc