Negotiating Sacred Spaces: Identity vs. Dissonance at a Contested Religious Heritage Site

I am always fascinated by the way places are shaped and formed by culture and love exploring how people from particular groups interact and construct spaces that reflect their shared belief system. Religion, to me, is crucial in defining people’s identities, and when it comes to dissonant religious beliefs, there are constant negotiations with the mainstream social and political system to keep these places vibrant as well as to retain their traditions. For a similar reason, the context of Akhra captured my interest, and most recently, I visited the Bithangal Akhra and did some preliminary research.

To me, Bithangal Akhra is not a placid site in terms of its forms, functions, and meanings—it immediately struck me as a living canvas of history and stories. My work shows how Bithangal carries a multiplicity of community histories and reveals the process by which its identity has been negotiated amid socio-cultural and political tumultuous events throughout history, even though patrimony was present at its inception. Emerging from an exclusionary socio-religious context, today Bithangal Akhra stands as a beacon of equity and unity, helping shape the individual identities of its believers. Moreover, it creates an inclusive atmosphere—reflected in its very premise—that significantly harmonizes a narrative of peace and solace beyond its boundaries.

The biography of this seemingly harmonious site has a multi-layered past, encapsulating the dynamics of contrasting identities, duality of power, and multiple memories. As I wandered through its spaces, I felt the weight of these layers; the negotiations over social values, identity constructions, representation, and cultural practices have all contributed to a conflict-ridden, non-linear historical context. Despite a web of social, political, and religious contestations that emerged in different eras and at times challenged its harmonious facade, Bithangal quietly questioned the marginalization process of a stratified society and strove to cleanse itself by providing shelter, cultivating unity, and fostering cultural harmony. In doing so, it actively reestablished a context of peace that resonates with me.

I found it particularly intriguing how these contested contexts have posed challenges in the discourse of heritage interpretation. By empowering the temple-management committee as the steward of decision-making, the site has been reclaimed in the present—a reclamation that has also uplifted subaltern groups and repositioned them within its domain. The heritage endowment from the Government of Bangladesh, along with current interpretations, has amplified its religiosity, endorsed its historical significance, and revived the embedded cultural values. The fluid cultural activities—ranging from collective performances to informal social interactions among common people, minstrels, saints, and believers—are now validated and celebrated. Embracing a platform of equity and harmony while empowering local decision-makers has undoubtedly fostered renewed social and cultural awareness. This example inspires me, showing how traditions can remain alive and original values can be preserved despite external pressures. As a space for cultural interaction, Bithangal’s interpretation invites believers to focus on God’s divinity, with the archetype of ‘akhra’ taking on a unique role in the practice of semi-formal rituals.

Walking through the site, I felt that its authentic, intangible fabric remained untouched. Worshipers can maintain their relationship with the divine, preserve social connections through informal congregational activities, and affirm cultural continuity via collective performances. My observations revealed that many visitors come not only to experience the past in the present but also to be enveloped by a sacred, almost palpable presence of the divine. The conservation effort by the Department of Archaeology of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh is an empathetic and sensitive approach that focuses on preserving the atmosphere of reverence—with minimal physical alterations to the original building materials and cultural objects. However, I believe that more thoughtful strategies are still necessary to manage overtly exposed tourists and curb the commodification in the surrounding buffer spaces, ensuring that the site’s historical reverence and cultural atmosphere continue to enhance its authenticity.