Resuscitating Identity of the Traditional Servitors: Community of Ekamra Kshetra Bhubaneshwar

Abstract

Numerous towns have emerged around sacred edifices and the associated events tied to them. Ekamra Kshetra, a special heritage zone in Bhubaneswar, embodies the essence of a temple town, with sacred buildings and associated events forming the core of its existence. The traditional servitors' community, known as the Sevayat community, resides near the revered Lingaraj temple, and their lives are intricately interwoven with the religious activities and practices conducted at the temple. This community shares not only common experiential, ideological, and sociological backgrounds but also exhibits synchronized patterns in their everyday routines, forming a distinctive chorus in their communal life. The traditional servitors' community plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the region. The study examines the challenges faced by the servitors' community in the wake of urbanization and explores the strategies employed to revive and sustain their traditional practices and living condition. Due to changing family structures and occupational shifts driven by economic sustainability, these hierarchically divided Sevayat communities are gradually losing their distinct identity. Furthermore, the housing conditions within these communities have experienced a decline over the years. The communities are persistently pressurized by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) to relocate from their ancestral homes, to facilitate tourism development, which leads to the commodification of this sacred precinct. A contestation arises between the interests of tourists and the well-being of the local community. Thus, it becomes imperative to rethink the spatial structure of the area and adopt an approach that effectively negotiates the needs and interests of both tourists and the community. This thesis explores the everyday life within a "cultural territory" to assess, design, and establish socio-culturally implicit spaces. Interventions aim to sensitively address current trends of development and practices that perpetuate urbanization and monotonous standardization. They seek to honor the requirements of tourists and local communities, fostering a sustainable relationship between different users, spaces, and networks. This holistic approach ensures a more sustainable outcome.