The Temporal Continuity: Temple, Theatre and Anthropology.

The article focuses on the evolving role and significance of temples and sacred spaces in Rajasthan, highlighting their temporal continuity and cultural diversity. It explores traditional temple functions as spiritual centers and community hubs, while also examining mobile and nomadic religious practices such as the Kavad (a portable wooden storytelling temple) and Pabuji ki Phad (a rolled cloth painting serving as a mobile temple). The discussion includes the patronage of temples by royal and non-royal figures, the integration of folk deities, and the interplay between religious performance and theatre in Rajasthan's agropastoral and nomadic communities. Overall, the article emphasizes how temples and related rituals reflect the social, economic, and political dynamics of Rajasthan's heterogeneous society over time.