Volume-XII, Issue-II, March 2026 |
রাঢ় বাংলায় লোকধর্ম ও মিশ্র সংস্কৃতির বাহকরূপে পিরানি বা মহিলা সুফি সাধিকার মাজার মুন্সী মহঃ সাহেবুর রহিম, গবেষক, বর্ধমান বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, পূর্ব বর্ধমান, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 16.03.2026 | Accepted: 17.03.2026 | Published Online: 31.03.2026 | Page No: | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.02W. | |||||||
Pirani or Female Sufi Saints’ Shrines as Carriers of Folk Religion and Syncretic Culture in Rarh Bengal Munshi Md Sahebur Rahim, Research Scholar, University of Burdwan, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
In the tradition of folk religion and syncretic culture of Rarh Bengal, the shrines (mazars) of Pirani or female Sufi saints are considered important socio-religious centers. Just as male Pirs played a significant role in the history of Sufi practices, many female mystics also earned the respect and faith of common people through their spiritual pursuits, love for humanity, and service to society. Although detailed historical records about their lives are scarce in Rarh Bengal, their influence and popularity are clearly reflected through folklore, oral traditions, and field studies. At the shrine of Pirani Halima Bibi located at Sekhdanga near Sahisnara village in Bankura district, it is mainly Hindu villagers who offer daily prayers by lighting incense and candles, and offerings (shirni) are made during the Urs in the month of Muharram. At the shrine of Joran Bibi in Hilora village of Murshidabad, a seven-day fair is held every year on the last Thursday of the month of Ashar, where thousands of Hindu and Muslim devotees gather. In the Paikar region of Birbhum, the shrine of Konkoni Bibi has created a unique atmosphere of communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims. In Radhakrishnapur village of Purba Bardhaman, Urs and fairs are organized in the month of Phalgun in memory of Pirani Khadija Bibi, where many people come to make vows. Similarly, at the shrine of Pirani Khadem Bibi in Khajurdihi of Katwa, devotees offer incense and candles, tie stones to trees, and dedicate clay horses while praying for the fulfillment of their wishes. The shrine of Champa Bibi in Birbhum stands as a unique symbol of Hindu-Muslim harmony. According to local belief, a Hindu ascetic named Champabati later attained spiritual fame, and the shrine established in her memory continues to attract devotees from both communities who offer prayers and devotional offerings. Overall, it is evident that these Pirani and female Sufi saints of Rarh Bengal were not confined only to religious practices; they stood beside the poor, oppressed, and marginalized, spreading the message of humanity. Even today, gatherings around their shrines, Urs, and fairs keep alive an important tradition of communal harmony, folk belief, and regional culture. | ||
Keywords: Pirani, Sufi, Pir, vow (manat), Urs, Mazar, Khanqah, Astana |