Manbhumer Adibasi Lokdevata (Bengali Version)

Book Details

• Author: Khirod Chandra Mahato
• Publisher: Bangiya Sahitya Samsad
• Language: Bengali
• ISBN: 9788189827786

About the Book

Manbhumer Adibasi Lokdevata (Bengali Version) is a fascinating ethnographic and cultural study that explores the indigenous folk deities worshipped by the tribal communities of the historic Manbhum region. Although the former district of Manbhum has disappeared from the political map of India and is now largely identified with present-day Purulia, its rich cultural heritage continues to survive through the beliefs, rituals, and traditions of its indigenous people.

The book examines the enduring faith that tribal communities place in their folk deities, whose presence remains deeply woven into everyday life despite the rapid social and technological transformations of the modern age. These local deities are not merely objects of worship but symbols of collective identity, ancestral memory, environmental harmony, and community values. Through their rituals and festivals, they continue to shape the spiritual and cultural life of the region.

Drawing upon extensive knowledge of the area's indigenous traditions, Khirod Chandra Mahato investigates the historical and cultural reasons behind the enduring prominence of these folk deities. The study explores their origins, myths, modes of worship, ceremonial practices, and their relationship with agriculture, nature, seasonal cycles, and the clan-based social organization of Manbhum. In doing so, the book reveals how religious belief and folk culture are inseparably connected within tribal society.

The author also highlights the remarkable continuity of these traditions in an era of modernization. While many aspects of traditional life have changed, the spiritual significance of indigenous folk deities remains intact, demonstrating the resilience of tribal cultural identity and the enduring relevance of local belief systems.

Combining the perspectives of folklore studies, cultural anthropology, ethnography, religious studies, and regional history, Manbhumer Adibasi Lokdevata offers readers a comprehensive understanding of the sacred traditions that continue to define the cultural landscape of historic Manbhum. The book contributes significantly to the documentation and preservation of Bengal's indigenous religious heritage.

An essential resource for students, researchers, anthropologists, folklorists, historians, and readers interested in tribal religion, folk beliefs, and the cultural heritage of eastern India, this volume provides valuable insight into one of the region's most enduring spiritual traditions.