https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Folk_sects_in_BengalFolk sects in Bengal - Revision history2026-08-20T23:38:00ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Folk_sects_in_Bengal&diff=499235&oldid=prevIrisClow72785038: created new post - done2025-11-28T03:01:20Z<p>created new post - done</p>
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Some of the folk sects, like Balarami, [[Baul]], Sahedhani, [[Kartabhaja|Karta bhaja]], Matuya, Jagomohani, and Nyadar, are still found in different places in both Bengals.<ref name="Cakrabarti2002">{{Cite book |last=Cakrabartī |first=Sudhīra |title=Gabhīra nirjana pathe |year=2002 |publisher=Ānanda |isbn=81-7756-266-5 |edition=2. saṃskaraṇa |location=Kalakātā |oclc=54047438}}</ref><br />
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== Balarami ==<br />
The Balarami Sect was established by [[Balaram Hari]] in [[Meherpur District|Meherpur]], [[Nadia district|Nadia]] district of [[Bengal Presidency]] (now in [[Meherpur District]] of [[Bangladesh]]).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=MUKHERJEE |first=SUJATA |title=Popular Sects and Elite Culture in Nineteenth Century Bengal : Some Aspects of Interraction and Assimilation |year=1996 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44133366 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=57 |pages=612–623 |jstor=44133366 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref> This sect believes that life is pure and simple above greed and sensuality. In this sect, preachers, gurus, and avatars are not present. The followers have no peculiar sect marks or uniform.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Jogendra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlpLAAAAMAAJ |title=Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste System and the Bearing of the Sects Towards Each Other and Towards Other Religious Systems |date=1896 |publisher=Thacker, Spink |language=en}}</ref> The Muslim disciples call their deity Hari-Allah, while the Hindu disciples use the term Hari rama. The Balaramis are still to be found at some places like Meherpur in Bangladesh and Nischintapur, Shabenagar, Palishipara, Natna, Hawlia, Arshinagor, goribpur in [[Nadia]], Daikiari in [[Purulia district|Purulia]], Shalunigram in [[Bankura district|Bankura]] of India, etc.<br />
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== Baul ==<br />
The [[Baul]] is the most well known folk sect in Bengal. The Baul is a group of mixed elements of the Sahaja and Sufism. The Bauls have a tradition that constitutes both a syncretic religious sect and a musical tradition.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Folk Sects |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Folk_Sects#:~:text=Religious%20sub-communities,%20like%20the,to%20as%20%27folk%20communities%27.&text=Baul%20The%20Baul%20form%20the,sect%20or%20community%20in%20Bengal. |access-date=2021-03-28 |website=Banglapedia}}</ref><br />
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== Sahebdhani ==<br />
The Sahebdhani sect does not believe in either creed or caste. This sect believes in praying together. The disciples belong to both Muslim and Hindu religions. The spiritual guides are called Dinadayal, Dinabandhu by the followers of this sect.<ref name=":1" /> The Sahebdhani originated in the village of Brittihuda in the district of Nadia. [[Kubir Sarkar]] and Jadubindu are two famous and celebrated Sahebdhani saints.<ref name="Cakrabarti2002"/><br />
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== Matuya ==<br />
The Matuya Sect originated in [[Bangladesh]] around 1860 AD by [[Harichand Thakur]]. The followers of this sect are mainly [[Namasudra]]s, a Scheduled caste group in Bengal. They believe in Vaisnavite Hinduism and self-realization ("Swayam-Dikshiti"). Nowadays, a considerable number of Matuyas are to be found in [[West Bengal]] in India.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Biśvāsa |first=Ratana |title=Namasudra movements in Bengal (1872-1947) : a case study of the transition from caste struggle to political identity |date=December 2010 |isbn=978-81-88006-19-9 |edition=1st |location=Kolkata |publisher=Progressive Book Forum |oclc=932407935}}</ref><br />
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== Other sects ==<br />
Other important folk sects in Bengal include:<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Cakrabarti2002"/><br />
* [[Kartabhaja|Karta bhaja]]<br />
* Jagomohani<br />
* Nyadar<br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Matua Mahasangha]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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[[Category:Religion in Bangladesh]]<br />
[[Category:Religion in West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Culture of Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Bengali folklore]]<br />
[[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]<br />
[[Category:Culture of Bangladesh]]</div>IrisClow72785038