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Happy hunting wild honey- a dangerous occupation! I wonder, how many people know which is the largest mangrove forest in the world? The name of the world’s largest mangrove forests is “The Sundarbans Reserve Forests”. These forests' four protected areas are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The sites are: viz. Sundarbans West (Bangladesh), Sundarbans South (Bangladesh), Sundarbans East (Bangladesh), and Sundarbans National Park (India) The name Sundarbans is derived from the tall mangrove Sundari tree that grows in these forests in large numbers. The area where the forests are located is known as the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta—the largest stream delta on the planet earth. Here the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers discharge waters into the Bay of Bengal. The region is also known as Bengal Delta. The purpose of posting this blog is not for telling you details of the forests which are the habitat of The Royal Bengal Tigers. If one travels through these forests, one will come across a large number of honeycombs (Bee Hives) hanging from the branches of some of these trees. I intend to tell my readers about honey and honey gatherers. Records say that honey collection began in Sundarbans in 1860. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, 580,240 kgs of honey and wax were collected from the Sundarbans by the honey gatherers who are called ‘Mowalis’ by the human habitants of the Sundarbans region. The people who live in this region have a complex relationship with their habitat. Sundarbans mangrove is no different. Though the forests provide the inhabitants with livelihoods and protect them from natural events like cyclones, the forests are also places where one can face dangers beyond imagination. The jungles are full of predators like tigers, crocodiles, poisonous snakes, and other dangerous animals. ' Mowalis' collect wild honey from the Sundarbans from April to June every year. Gathering wild honey may sound like a normal occupation. But it is not a normal Job. It is a dangerous occupation. When the Mowalis move about in the jungle looking for beehives, they run the risk of meeting a Royal Bengal tiger. They go there to collect wild honey fully knowing well that they are in prime Tiger territory. Before the honey collectors enter the forests, they follow a generation-old custom. They seek the blessings of the jungle deity irrespective of their being Muslim or Hindu. The forest Goddess is known as “Bonbibi”. The honey collectors use tree leaves and twigs as a smoke-emitting torch to scatter away the bees from the hives. Some of the pictures appended depict such torches. Photo 2 depicts a person wearing a yellow shirt blowing a buffalo horn. The horn is used for signaling fellow Mowals. It may be mentioned again that wild honey collecting is not an easy job. It is a risky part-time occupation. These wild honey collectors are fishermen but like to collect wild honey. During the off-season, they earn a livelihood by catching fish.          |
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Risk, Ritual, and survival: the Honey. The honey hunters of Sundarbans!
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12/8/2022 3:26 pm |
Wonderful set of interesting pictures, looklook. I would enjoy some of that honey on my porridge for breakfast. 
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I really enjoyed this blog! Thanks for posting it, it is so interesting.
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Honey tastes yummy in its natural form when collected directly from a beehive. I had the opportunity to taste such honey when I was a kid. But not in Sundarbans. You can buy a small jar of such honey (may be a bit refined) from any Bangladeshi or Indian grocery located in your area or nearby. Thanks, sparkleflit, for stopping by. Be safe.
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Brett, honey is costly here too. Have you ever tried to taste wild honey available in your part of the country? If not, try it for once and feel the difference. Stay safe and happy.
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Yes, dear Shartaun, the first photo of the honey above sure looks delicious! It must be tasty too. Producing Honey domestically in our country can be seen in our rural areas. It has become a part-time business for many rural populations. I hope you are doing well. Stay happy and cheerful always.
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Wonderful set of interesting pictures, looklook. I would enjoy some of that honey on my porridge for breakfast.
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I really enjoyed this blog! Thanks for posting it, it is so interesting.
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As usual, I am delighted to read here from you, dear Sandy. You have an imaginative mind. Hiking through forests as Sundarbans may invite a reptile to harm the hiker. It could be either a poisonous snake or any one of the reptile spices! Sundarbans is a prime Bengal tiger territory. Even the poachers move there very carefully. These tigers are good swimmers. So, a hiker is not safe in a boat while sleeping at night. Sundarban is also the habitat of Red Jungle Flows. They are not domesticated. So, chickens live there too. But they are fearless and prefer to live on tree branches at night. Sandy, the natural beauty of this region can't be described in words. I wish you all the best. Take care. Be safe.
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Thanks for your above post, sparkleflit. It has enriched this blog of mine. Beekeeping is now a worldwide economic activity. Here in my country, rural inhabitants have learned the economic importance of Bee-Keeping. I never bothered about the color of the honey. To me, honey is always a tasty sweet product irrespective of its color. Take Care, sparkleflit. Happy Holidays.
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LOOK, HOW VERY INTERESTING. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THERE IS HONEY SOMEWHERE, BEES ARE DYING AT A VERY FAST RATE HERE AND THIEVES ACTUALLY STEAL BEE HIVES FROM THEIR OWNERS. THE LOSS OF BEES IS A VERY SERIOUS THREAT TO OUR VERY EXISTANCE SO WE ARE TOLD. I HOPE THOSE HONEY GATHERERS ARE DECENTLY PAID FOR THE HUGE RISKS THEY TAKE.
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LOOK, HOW VERY INTERESTING. IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THERE IS HONEY SOMEWHERE, BEES ARE DYING AT A VERY FAST RATE HERE AND THIEVES ACTUALLY STEAL BEE HIVES FROM THEIR OWNERS. THE LOSS OF BEES IS A VERY SERIOUS THREAT TO OUR VERY EXISTANCE SO WE ARE TOLD. I HOPE THOSE HONEY GATHERERS ARE DECENTLY PAID FOR THE HUGE RISKS THEY TAKE. Here in my country, Honey hunters are independent people. They are not employed by anyone to collect wild honey. They form a group and enter the forest after paying tax. to Government. They divide the sale proceeds of the collected honey and wax among themselves. I hope you are doing fine. Stay well. Happy Holidays.
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So very interesting, Looklook!! Thank you for sharing this~~~
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So very interesting, Looklook!! Thank you for sharing this~~~ Take care. Happy Holidays.
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