3 - The Syncretic Excess in the practice of Bauleyys in Sundarban

In an urban imagination, the spatiality of the Sundarban has often been referred to as the land of “Jele, Mouley, o Bauleyy” (fishermen, honey collectors, and woodcutters, respectively). Bengali for woodcutter, the word Bauleyy in the context of the Sundarban carries connotations beyond that. A Bauleyy is a fakir, who is also a ritual specialist, and a devotee of the sylvan deity Bonbibi, they are known for the maintenance of Bonbibi shrines, and espouser of the syncretic (in terms of shared practices between Hindus and Muslims) essence of the cult. A Bauleyy is also a witch doctor, known to healing remedies, beyond popular understanding of western medicine. Often referred to as Gunins, the Bauleyys’ practice cannot be categorised under either of the Sakta or Saivaite traditions, making the genre very unique in the context of South Bengal.
Based on ethnographic interactions with Bauleyys in the Indian Sundarban, my paper aims to explore the syncretic excess in this genre of practice, and explain a framework for it. My paper also answers questions such as- how does present day Bauleyys perceive their profession, considering that it is a dying one, and also what role does the Bauleyy play in maintaining or disrupting religious unity among the Hindus and Muslims of the Sundarban. Additionally, the paper discusses whether the tradition of Bauleyys can be characterized as Tantric.