Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has intensified efforts to secure central assistance for the development of an ancient pilgrimage route and associated cultural infrastructure along the Mahanadi River, aiming to preserve the river’s profound civilisational heritage and boost sustainable cultural tourism.
In a recent letter to the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Culture, Chief Secretary Anu Garg highlighted the project’s national significance, underscoring its potential to document and showcase the river’s rich tangible and intangible heritage, including ancient temples, rituals, sacred sites, and living cultural traditions.
The proposed envisages the development of an ancient pilgrimage corridor along the Mahanadi and establish cultural infrastructure, including interpretation centres in the Hirakud influence area, and a comprehensive cultural mapping, documentation of tangible and intangible heritage, and preservation of traditional rituals, folklore and customs associated with the river.
The Chief Secretary noted that the state had previously approached the Ministry with the proposal through letters dated March 13, 2025, and August 18, 2025. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has expressed full support for cultural mapping and documentation of the Mahanadi’s riverine cultural landscape. Despite this, the state is yet to receive a formal response or commitment from the Centre, prompting the fresh communication to expedite approval and funding.
The Mahanadi, often revered as a nurturing mother in local folklore, has long served as a cradle of cultural and spiritual life for communities in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Its banks are dotted with numerous temples, ghats, and sacred sites that have drawn pilgrims for centuries. Festivals such as Bali Jatra and Boita Bandana at Cuttack, along with various rituals and oral traditions, reflect the river’s deep integration into the region’s identity. Historical surveys have identified scores of ancient monuments and submerged heritage structures along its course, adding urgency to conservation efforts.
The state government has urged the Ministry of Culture to examine the proposal on priority and extend necessary financial and administrative support, particularly for IGNCA’s involvement, to translate this vision into reality. It has also sought approval for the development of the proposed pilgrimage route and its associated cultural infrastructure along the Mahanadi.
This renewed appeal comes amid other riverfront initiatives in the state, including waterfront development schemes and tourism projects around the Mahanadi, which seek to enhance urban livability, eco-tourism, and cultural experiences. Proponents believe the pilgrimage route could position the Mahanadi as a significant cultural corridor, similar to other established heritage circuits in India, while protecting its ecological and spiritual legacy for future generations.
