Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s history does not survive only in royal chronicles, monumental temples or protected archaeological sites. It also resides in caves , village festivals, weathered palm-leaf manuscripts, wooden images and stories passed quietly from one generation to another.
Sunday’s heritage walks organised in Chilika-Barakul region and Dhenkanal brought some of these lesser-known cultural worlds into public view. While the Dhenkanal walks continued established local initiatives, the Chilika Heritage Walks (CHW) marked the beginning of a new effort to interpret the region’s cultural essence through public participation.
The event was significant because it extended Odisha’s community heritage movement into a region usually understood primarily through its unique ecological importance. The CHW was conducted by the ODI ART Centre under the leadership of Bisheswar Das and Sushant Kumar Dash.
The walk began at the ODI ART Centre, an ethnic art complex dedicated to preserving and presenting Odisha’s folk and tribal artistic traditions. However, folk and tribal art should not be understood merely as objects arranged within galleries. These traditions remain alive because artists, craftspeople, performers and ritual communities continue to practise and transmit them.
The event started fron near Maa Narayani Temple. While the current structure dates back to later centuries, the original sacred shrine is believed to have existed before the 12th Century A.D. Some archaeological documentation links its foundational structural elements to as early as the 7th Century A.D. during the Bhaumakara dynasty.
The modern history of the temple is strongly tied to the Zamindars (Kings) of Khallikote. In the early 18th Century A.D., the rulers of Khallikote undertook a massive renovation project, transforming the old jungle shrine into a formal stone temple.
After the temple tour participants moved to Debijhara near Barkul is a serene natural reservoir and viewpoint tucked into the foothills of the Eastern Ghats. Overlooking sweeping water landscapes framed by rugged hills, the scenic spot is affectionately dubbed a miniature “Second Chilika” by local explorers due to its unique blend of hill and wetland vistas. The 20 plus children of Venkateshwar English Medium School of Barakul and five from Khalikote Art College wrote their experience about the temple and drew some beautiful canvas of Debijhara.
The 40 th Dhenkanal Heritage Walks (DHW) was organised at the historic Gumpha Jagannath Temple also known as Harihara Ashram in Gandia block. Set within a tranquil natural landscape, the Ashram is regarded by its monks and followers as an important pilgrimage centre of Jaganntha Culture since 200 years .
Participants explored the Ashram’s Jagannatha and Shiva Mandir, gumpha (cave) and surrounding environment. The trust formed by the local people doing a great job by maintaining and conducting various rituals including Rathayatra . The event was organised under the leadership of DHW convenor Suresh Prasad Mishra.
Two hundred years ago, a saint had installed the “Chaturdha” deities in a cave in this Duburi and was worshiping them. After the saint’s demise, later, through the efforts of local devotees, the deities were given a new form and a temple was constructed here. There are many caves on this hill. Idols of various gods and goddesses have been installed in each cave, and a Shiva temple has also been constructed here.
The two heritage walks revealed different yet interconnected dimensions of Odisha’s past. Whereas at Dhenkanal, history survives through a living tradition and rituals associated with Lord Jagannatha, around Chilika and Barakul, heritage emerges through the meeting of ecology, folk art, temple traditions sacred geography and natural landscapes.
Heritage walks, on the other hand, can encourage people to observe familiar places with fresh historical perspective and allow local custodians to share knowledge that may not exist in official records. Odishs Heritage Walks plans to extend such walks across the State,which could play an important role in reconnecting young people with local traditions.