Sunderban Women Celebrate 'Bhaiphota' Festival By Honouring Mangroves

Bhaiphota (or bhai dooj in some other regions) is a festival that celebrates the protective bond between siblings. In the storm-prone Sunderban forests of West Bengal, women celebrated the occasion by honouring mangrove trees that secured them from the fury of the recent cyclone Dana. Local women gathered at the Sundarika River in Haripur village, Namkhana in South 24 Parganas district, to perform a unique 'Mangrovephota' ritual.

Sunderbans' Mangrove Forests

Sunderbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is known for its mangrove forests and magnificent fauna. The mangrove forests act as a natural shield, mitigating the impacts of natural calamities by buffering the coastline from storm surges and reducing the velocity of wind. 

During the cyclone Dana, the mangroves in Sunderbans controlled the impact of intense winds that reached over 100 kilometres per hour. The women of Indigenous communities came together to celebrate bhaiphota and pay respect to the vital forests that protect their homes and families.

The women decorated the tree trunks with sandalwood paste and vermillion. They lit lamps and prayed for the protection of the life-saving green expanse. Women in Sandeshkhali too performed the ritual along the banks of the Raimangal and Chhoto Kalagachi rivers.

Impact Of Climate Change

The Sunderban region has witnessed numerous natural challenges over the years including depleting green cover, rising sea levels, endangered wildlife, and frequent devastating cyclones. Several islands have been completely submerged due to relentless coastal erosion.

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Photographer Supratim Bhattacharjee's campaign called 'Sinking Sundarbans' has captured these calamities through the lens of their impacts on local communities. One of these photos has even won a UNICEF Photo of the Year and the Mangrove Action Project photography award.