Residents of Kalitala-Samshernagar in the Hingalganj block in the Sunderbans eagerly await another visit by chief minister Mamata Banerjee for the inauguration of the newly completed temple of Bonbibi — a legendary woman of the forests.

Bonbibi is dubbed as a guardian spirit and venerated by both Hindus and Muslims across the delta.

While visiting the area on November 29 last year, Mamata had offered prayers at an old temple there and promised a new one in honour of the deity.

Villagers want the chief minister to visit the new temple for inauguration preferably on January 16 (the first day of Magh in the Bengali calendar), 2024, when the season of honey collection starts with ritualistic prayer before Bonbibi.

“Magh 1 is an auspicious day for the people living in the Sunderbans, particularly those who survive on fishing, crab-hunting and honey collection in the dense forests. The day is celebrated here as a festival with prayers to Bonbibi. We all want Didi (Mamata) to visit Kalitala to inaugurate the new temple on the day,” said a villager.

The new temple was built on a 10-cottah plot by the state government at a cost of Rs 84 lakh and it renewed tourists’ interest there. The installation of the idol will be completed by the first week of December.

According to the folklore of the Sunderbans in India and Bangladesh with origins in at least the 15th century, the blessings of Bonbibi (with Muslim roots) ward off the sinister attacks of her archrival, demon king Dakkhin Rai (with Hindu roots), who appears in the disguise of a tiger and harms humans.

While the inhabited parts of the Sunderbans are believed to be the realm of Bonbibi, Dakkhin Rai is believed to be the ruler of the deep forests.

In most of the shrines of Bonbibi in the Sunderbans, she is worshipped along with her brother, Shah Jangali, and Dakkhin Rai.

Animesh Mandal, a researcher on the Sunderbans and a teacher of Bengali literature at the Kalinagar Mahavidyalaya in North 24-Parganas, said: “Bonbibi is an iconic character in the daily life of people living in the Sunderbans. She is called upon mostly by honey collectors, fishermen and crab-hunters before entering the forests, for their protection against tiger attacks.”

“The rituals of her prayer are done by Hindus and Muslims alike. The goddess is a symbol of centuries of communal amity in the delta. It is quite natural that people would expect Mamata Banerjee to inaugurate the new temple,” he added.

Tushar Mondal, Trinamul Congress’s North 24-Parganas zilla parishad functionary, said the temple was completed according to the chief minister’s wishes.

“Preparations for the inauguration will be completed soon. We all expect that she will come here again and inaugurate the new temple,” he said.