Buri

Buri (Bengali: বুড়ি) refers to a diverse class of ancient regional mother goddesses venerated across parts of eastern India, especially in West Bengal and Jharkhand. The term “Buri” does not denote an elderly woman, but symbolizes an ancestral, matriarchal, protective deity rooted in pre-Vedic, tribal, and agrarian traditions. These goddesses are associated with fertility, health, prosperity, and village safety.

Geographic Distribution

Buri worship is mainly found in:

• West Bengal: Bardhaman, Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia
• Jharkhand: Dhanbad, Dumka

Shrines, known as “Buri’r Thaan”, are usually located on village outskirts—near rivers, fields, or sacred groves—emphasizing their connection to nature and local ecology.

Iconography and Worship Practices

Most Buri shrines lack anthropomorphic images. Instead, devotees worship:

• A cemented altar
• A mound of earth
• A simple stone slab

These are often shaded by trees and seen as sacred. Rituals blend animist and Hindu elements.

Votive Offerings and Ritual Objects

A defining feature of Buri worship includes:

• Terracotta horses and elephants (symbolic vehicles)
• Alcohol offerings (e.g., for Bidh Buri)
• Animal sacrifices (e.g., goats)
• Rice-based foods

Only males may consume prasad, and only while standing at the shrine.

Notable Shrines and Associated Deities

Bidh Buri (Khayarbari, Bardhaman)

• Located near a dam (bidh)
• Enclosed marble structure
• Terracotta horses offered
• Alcohol is essential
• Only boys may eat prasad on-site

Sitaiburi (Amanala, Bardhaman)

• Various-sized terracotta horses
• Worshipped for children’s health

Ahar Buri (Banshul, between Durgapur and Bankura)

• Provider of food and nourishment
• Especially for sick or underfed children
• Terracotta elephants and horses offered

Panuria Buri (Panuria, Bardhaman)

• Worshippers leave terracotta horses upon fulfilled vows
• Strong link to agricultural fertility

Chitura Buri (Rangamati, Bankura)

• Shrine contains circular stones and horse idols
• Connected to rustic fertility rituals

Additional Shrines

• Bishram Buri (Parbatpur) – Possibly linked to rest/healing
• Bhootaburi (Samdihi) – Possibly associated with spirits (bhoot)
• Barali Buri (Bankura) – Vow-based worship, little documentation
• Nuni Buri (Dhadka, Asansol) – Data minimal, horse offerings continue
• Juri Buri (Juri Dangal, Jharkhand) – Myth of broken sword & sacred river
• Kisha Buri (Karothan Karo, Jharkhand) – Magical utensils myth
• Malanch Buri (Kebaljuri, Jharkhand) – Miraculous shrine relocation

Ritual Legends and Folklore

Juri Buri

• Worshipped on Ajay River bank
• A priest dropped a sacrificial sword in a divine pit
• Goddess broke the tip in anger
• From then, rituals use the broken blade

Kisha Buri

• Once gave magical utensils to villagers
• After misuse by a devotee, she withdrew her blessings
• No utensils have appeared since

Malanch Buri

• Originally worshipped on a hill
• Shrine moved to foothill for a pregnant devotee
• Loved for her compassion
• Priesthood held by the Laya subgroup of Mal community

Child-Protecting Buris

• Kidaneya Buri (Sanbidha, Bankura) – For crying children
• Paisey Buri (Rangamati, Bankura) – Honored by midwives post-birth, especially on Day 5

Cultural Significance

The Buri goddesses are vital to rural spiritual life in Bengal and Jharkhand. They represent:

• A fusion of tribal animism, feminine power, and folk Hinduism
• Centers of health, fertility, agriculture, weather, and kinship rites
• A rare persistence of matriarchal paradigms in a patriarchal society

They are localized and absent from mainstream Hindu texts or temples, emphasizing site-specific worship in Bengali folk religion.

See Also

• [Regional Folk Deities of Bengal]
• [Terracotta Horse Offerings]
• [Matriarchal Deities in South Asia]
• [Animistic Traditions in Indian Religion]
• [Pre-Vedic Mother Goddess Worship]

References

• Oral folklore from West Bengal and Jharkhand
• Field studies on regional goddess traditions
• Interviews with rural priests and custodians
• Studies on terracotta rituals in Bengal

Categories:

• Bengali folk deities
• Hindu folk religion
• Regional Hindu goddesses
• Animism in India
• Votive offerings