On a chilling winter evening, some young folk artists in Kalyanpur were beating drums in tune with folk songs to appease ‘divine power’ for protection from the mighty wild animals like tigers.
‘Tora Bahir hoiya dekh sajani, bagh aitase’ – a rustic melody which when translated roughly means, O friends, step out of homes as a tiger is coming – reverberated in rural Tripura during the month of Magh (January-February) decades ago.
At that time, the people of rural Tripura had to live with the fear of tiger attacks. They rightly believe tigers face food crises during the harsh winter season and stroll into human habitats.
Recalling his childhood days, a septuagenarian Swapan Roy said, “People, since the ancient time, assimilated nature with rituals and myths to be protected from attacks of mighty creatures like tigers – so also people of Kalyanpur and other rural areas”.
Over time, many of these rural myths and rituals vanished while few others have become a ‘dying art’ – ‘Bagh Sinni’ is one of such ‘dying art’ rituals, Roy commented.
Bagh Sinni is a folk ritual practiced in different areas of Tripura to appease fierce ‘tiger’ so that it does not attack people.
Folk artists dressed up like gods, goddesses and tigers would sing, dance and symbolically ‘kill’ the ‘tiger’. They would collect donations from the villagers and later, would perform Bagh Sinni Brata.
With the advent of the modern era and no tiger left in Tripura Forest, very few of the present young generation are heard about Bagh Bahini Brata – but, thanks to some enthusiastic children and youths of Kalyanpur.
A couple of groups in Kalyanpur are doing their best to keep the Bagh Sinni Brata alive and performing in households and in markets for the last few days.
The Bagh Sinni Brata is usually held on the last day of Bengali month, Magh. A ritual is being held and villagers offer ‘Sinni’ to the tiger. Also, they pray for protection from ‘tigers’ to the gods, Roy said.
