Vaidya Mugdha Mahesh

LA4021

The Living Creek

The coastal fishermen community of Mangalwad village in Daman celebrates their cultural heritage through festivals based on the lunar calendar, a 15-day cycle from the new moon to the full moon. These festivals are deeply connected to their indigenous knowledge of tidal cycles, fishing practices and reverence for natural elements such as the sea, streams, creeks, and rivers. The creek serves as both a natural waterway and a cultural landmark in Mangalwad and has historically played a central role in community livelihood and traditions.However, over the period the creek has suffered from severe pollution due to anthropogenic activities including infrastructure development, agricultural runoff, household waste and untreated sewage. This degradation not only threatens the creek’s ecological health but also diminishes its cultural and functional significance for the community. The proposed project aims to restore the Mangalwad Creek through nature-based solutions that prioritize ecological revival and cultural reconnection. The strategy focuses on mitigating pollution through sustainable waste management. Reviving aquatic biodiversity and improving water quality to support the creek’s ecosystem. Reinforcing the creek’s identity as a cultural marker tied to community festivals. Supporting festival rituals by cultivating flowers, leaves and other necessities within the community. Transforming the creekside space into a vibrant recreational area connecting homes and fostering community engagement. Promoting productive landscape practices such as cultivating vegetables, fruits, and flowers to enhance local livelihoods. The project envisions the creek as a catalyst for cultural, social, and ecological revival fostering a sustainable and enriched relationship between the community and its natural heritage. .

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Case Study- Decoding Cultural practices in the region of coastal Maharashtra and Goa.

Regional study- The study involved mapping and analyzing various layers such as landscape and cultural layers such as geology, geomorphology, hydrology, soil, slope analysis, vegetation, wildlife, land use and infrastructure, demographics of the study area.

Systemic location of the study - Coastal Village

Understanding the activities and landscape of the village shaped by the community and their involvement, highlighting their indigenous knowledge and practices.Documentation done for two hamlets Kadaiya and Mangalwad along the coastal stretch

Mapping and understanding temporalities-These maps are representations designed to capture, display or analyse information across time. These maps can take various forms depending on the purpose, data type, and application. They help identify trends, patterns, and correlations across time periods. Provide insights into how events, phenomena or data points change over time and space.

Understanding festival practices for coastal village of Mangalwad

Site Appraisal- understanding evolution of the creek

Vision and Mindmap -The creek as a catalyst for cultural, social, and ecological revival

Connecting the cultural Markers -The creek becomes a central spine that unites various cultural markers such as temples, historical landmarks or event spaces. This spatial connection encourages people to traverse the area, fostering a stronger relationship between these markers and their cultural identity.

Landscape Insert-Facilitative infrastructure for the festivals .Module for productive landscape for connecting backyards to the creek.