Folk Deities of Medinipur District

Folk Deities of Medinipur district are the paragon of holiness and is worshiped in myriad forms that are named as Banbibi. Some of them are very famous. Bargabhima (Tamluk), Savitri (Jhargram), Kanakdurga (Chilkigarh), Rukmini (Silda), Sarbamangala (Garbeta), Bisalakshi (Barada), Brahmani(Narayangarh), Kapalkundala (Contai), Joychandi (Sankrail) etc. almost originated from folk base. Among these female deities one just finds one male deity, called Bhima, who is worshipped only on the middle portion of this district i.e. Ghatal to Dantan. His influence is not found elsewhere of this district.

Bhima is worshipped on the very day of Ekadashi in Magha. His idol is formed with straw and clay and this big idol is worshipped within a night. Bhima is treated to be a power deity and probably this ritual is rooted in "Banaprava” of the Mahabharata. Once Bhima married a non-Aryan woman called Hirimba and probably this habitat group still recalls this nuptial bondage by paying reverence to Bhima. Fairs are also arranged in these worship days.

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