Impact of Sufi Culture on Local Life of Chittagong: Hundred Years of Annual Maijbhandari Urs (1907-2007)

Chittagong is the center of Sufism in Bangladesh. Urs festival, originating in 1907 in Chittagong Maijbhandar Darbar, has ornamented into an all-embracing non-communal festival in Bangladesh over the passing of a century. The Urs festival is an integral element of Maijbhandari Sufism. On the birth and death days of Maijbhandari saints, Urs or feasts are celebrated in the shrine with many devotees participating spontaneously. The participants of this festival are not discriminated against by any religious boundaries although it is organized by Muslims. On the occasion when religion, society and culture unite, Urs has created its platform. Over the evolution of long-time tradition, Maijbhandari Urs has taken Chittagonean hospitality culture to another stage. Maijbhandar has set a standard for organizing Urs among the other Shrines of Chittagong. It has significantly influenced ameliorating social lifestyles and traditions. The article educates about how Islamic Sufism met with Maijbhandar Darbari Sufism and created a folk Islamic culture. The Maijbhandar Urs has been impactful in integrating peoples’ social and cultural life. This is a descriptive and methodical article about how a religious tradition turned into a massive folk culture called Maijbhandari Urs, its’ genesis, gradual development, organization and social influence.)

Maijbhandar Dorbar, Urs, Chittagong, Mezban, Folk Islam

1. Tabaruk (Derived from the word `barakah’. Eating food that gives blessing. Food served at `Urs or Mahfil’ in the Indian subcontinent) [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Mezban (The tradition of the Chittagong region is a multi-dimensional feast. Organized on religious, social, and cultural occasions. Usually, hosts are organized with neighbors, neighboring areas, and relatives.) [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Hadiya (Hadiya is an Arabic word, it means gift. In Sufi terminology, a gift given with the purpose of showing respect to the pir and seeking the blessing of the pir is called Hadiya.) [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. ***Daruttwalim (A group managing the regulations of the Tariqa of Ahmadia Manzil) [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. ***Sajjadanshin Pir, literally means sitting on a praying mat. (The one chosen to become the Sufi) [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. **Naior, the occasion of women in Bangladesh visiting their father’s home for a few days. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Alom, Mahbub-ul. (2018). Maijbhandari jibonbodh o kormobad( ekti somaj tattik prokkepon), Alokdhara Books, Chittagong. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Alom, Moinul. (1372, Phalgun 26). Lok Songite Maijbhandarer Obodan, Purbani, Bangladesh. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Alom, Mucha. (1984). Moina Jogot, Chittagong, Anjumane Muttabeine Gause Maijbhandar, Song no 23. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Balyabi, Abdul Hafiz, (2012). Misbahul Lugat, (translation: Ahmed korim siddik) Dhaka, Islamia Kutubkhana. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Bertocci, Peter J. (2006) “A Sufi Movement in Bangladesh: The Maijbhandari Tariqa and its Followers’’ Contribution to Indian Sociology, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/006996670504000101. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Bhuiya, Phaijullah. (2008). Jiboni O Karamat. (3rd ed). Maijbhandar Darbar Sharif, Chittagong. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Badruddoja, Saiyad. (1402). Allahor Onugroher Shondhane, (1st ed), Gauchiya Rahman Manjel; Chittagong. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Badruddoja, Saiyad. (1427). Baba Bhandari, (5th ed) Chittagong, Prokasonar Suborno joyontee sonskoron, Baitul iktan, Maijbhandar sharif. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Ernst, Carl, W, (2006). Sufism, Islam, and Globalization in the Contemporary World: Methodological Reflections on a Changing field of Study. Paper prepared for the Fourth Victor Danner Memorial Lecture, Indiana University, April 15, 2006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Fazaal, Abul. (1969). Lekhoker Roznamcha. Dhaka: Naoroj Kitabistan. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Ghos, Binoy. (1386). Banglar Lok Songskritir Somajtottho, Kolkata, Aruna Prokasoni. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Guillaume, Alfred. (1954). Islam, Penguin Books. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Harder, Hans. (2011). Sufism and Saint Veneration in Contemporary Bangladesh: The Maijbhandaries of Chittagong, London, Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Hossain, Syed Delwar. (2014). Belayot-e- Motlaqa. (3rd ed). Anjuman-e-Muttabeyeen-Gause-Maijbhandari, Chittagong. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Hossain, Syed Delwar. Manob Shovhota. (1974). Maijbhandari Prokashoni, Chittagong. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Hali, abdul Gafoor. [ Recorded song but unpublished in printed form, Translated by Sajed Kamal. (Jahangir: 1999: 385)] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Iqbal, Tahmina, and Mazhar Farid. `` Sufi practices as the cause of spiritual, mental and physical healing at Chisthi shrines in Pakistan.’’ Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, vol. 20. No. 10, 2017, pp 943-953. http://doi.org/ 10.1080/13674676.2017.1372736. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Jahangir, Selim. (1999) Maijbhandari Sondorshon. (1st ed), Dhaka, Bangladesh, Bangla Academi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Jahangir, Selim. (2019) Gausulazam Maijbhandari: Shotoborsher Aloke. (3rd ed). Maijbhandar Darbar Shorif, Chittagong. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Jahangir, Selim. (2014) Maijbhandari Sharif porichiti. Maijbhandar Darbar Shorif, Chittagong. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Kanchanpuri, Abdul Hadi (1974.). Rotno Vandar, vol-1, Chittagong: Maijbhandar Dorbar Shorif, [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Karim, Abdul. (1970) Chottograme Islam. Islamic cultural center, 1st ed, Dhaka [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Khan, Akbor Ali, (2019). Banglay Islam Prochare Safollo: Ekti Oitihashik Bishleshon. Prothoma, Dhaka [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Khan, Shamsuzzaman. (2017) Samprotik Folklore Vabna, Dhaka, Anindayprokash. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Khanam, Farida, (2006) Sufism an Introduction. www.goodreadersbooks.com [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Mannan, Abdul. (2016). Sufibad, Maijbhandari Sufi Dorshon ebong Bisow Shanti, Dhaka, Student Ways. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Maijbhandari Pir (05 september, 2022). Interview with author. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Maijbhandari Pir (24 November, 2022). Interview with author. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Rahman, Fajlur. (2013) Al Kamsul Wajij, (16th ed). Dhaka, Ryad prokashoni. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Rajalakshmi, T, K (2003, Novmember 7). ``Ayodhya, a picture of Diversity,’’ Frontline. Retrieved from [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Sur, Atul. (2018). Bangla o Bangalir Somaj o songskriti, (2nd ed), Kolkata, Sahittolok. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Sufian, Saleh (2018) Tajkeratul Maijbhandarya., vol -1 Gausia haque Monjil, Chittagong [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Agarwood: A Fragrant Link between India and Southeast Asia
• Pens of Protest: Malayalam Press in the Freedom Struggle
• Long-Term Trends of Temperature and Rainfall in Sivakasi: A Climatic Assessment (1980–2025)
• Iran’s Forgotten Friend William Morgan Shuster: Victim of Anglo-Russian Conspiracy
• The (Moordkop) Murder Hill Massacre 1830: A Historical Analysis of the Griqua-Ndebele Conflict