India is estimated to host approximately 100,000 sacred groves, the highest number of any country. Odisha, located in the Eastern Ghats along India’s eastern coastline, is home to more than 2,000 such groves. Despite their abundance, these ecologically and culturally significant forest patches remain poorly documented and insufficiently understood, according to the study authors.
To assess local perceptions, researchers conducted interviews with 148 residents living around 10 sacred groves in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. The participants represented a diverse range of social groups, including Santals, Gonds, Kolhas, Bhuyans, Gauda, Bathudi, Bhumij, and Ho Munda communities. The researchers noted that the sacred grove tradition transcends ethnic and social boundaries within the region, functioning as a shared cultural framework across communities.
The study found that villages actively preserve these groves as sites of worship dedicated to a forest deity. Strict customary rules prohibit the cutting of trees and the commercial extraction of natural resources from these areas. These restrictions are enforced through community belief systems rather than formal state regulation.
At the same time, local residents reported using 28 species of plants found within the groves for medicinal and religious purposes. The groves also serve as the focal point of an annual festival celebrating the blooming of sacred sal trees, scientifically known as Shorea robusta. Researchers noted that these ceremonies strengthen community bonds and reinforce cultural identity among residents.
Despite their continued cultural importance, nearly all interviewees stated that the groves are shrinking in size. The primary causes cited include road construction and the expansion of human settlements along forest edges. A 70-year-old resident told researchers that the forests once covered much larger areas but have significantly reduced over time, adding that the community wishes to preserve them for future generations.
The study concluded that without deeply rooted cultural beliefs, many of these sacred groves would likely have already disappeared. It also highlighted that several groves in Odisha have yet to be fully cataloged or mapped, raising concerns about their long-term protection.
Lead author Subhani Rath emphasized the need for a structured conservation framework, stating that sacred groves require a robust system similar to protected areas to ensure their survival. The findings underline the fragile balance between cultural preservation and environmental pressure in one of India’s most significant community-conserved ecological systems.
About The Author
Comment List