Bhubaneswar, July 11: Jagannath scholar Sk Makbul Islam was today conferred with the Nabakalebar award by the Shree Jagannath Research Institute at a function hosted at Jaydev Bhavan.

Makbul has worked for 22 years on the propagation of the Jagannath culture beyond Puri, especially in Bengal, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Northeast. Puri Shanka-racharya Nischalananda Saraswati presented him the award with Puri Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb.

Makbul hails from Bengal but can fluently speak Odia and is a follower of the Jagannath culture. The award was presented to him for his contribution in documenting folklores and legends of Lord Jagannath and devotees since ancient times.

"For my research, I read people not books, and this will take an entire lifetime since the roots of Jagannath culture have spread far and wide, and I am following it wherever I can. My work is based on intangible traditions that flow through psyche of human relations and heritage," said Makbul.

Some of his books include Chaitanya Deva and Folklore, Sri Jagannath: Bengalee Mind and Folk Life, Sri Jagannath Chetana-Dwipti O Byapti and Sri Jagannath Anubhab. His latest book on Jagannath traditions in Nepal will be released next month.

Makbul has also received a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from Utkal University for his work and is the Dean of Kalyani University, Bengal.

The award ceremony was hosted on the occasion of 35th anniversary of the institute. A dictionary on jargons of the Puri temple was also unveiled at the event. Compiled by former head of the Odia department at Utkal University, Surendra Nath Dash, the book contains the meaning of unique terms and words used by servitors for rituals, daily activities and in association with events related to the Jagannath temple.

Various priests and saints from mutts and religious institutions of Puri and Bhubaneswar were present on the occasion. Each of them condemned the recent debacle during the Nabakalebar rituals of Brahma Paribartan in the Puri temple.

The Gajapati also said that after the rath yatra got over, the state government must give attention to the mismanagement of the Jagannath temple. The Shankaracharya came down heavily on the government and criticised the administrators apart from challenging that he and his disciples could do better administration. "We should not be taken for granted. They cannot manage the economy or development and they think they can manage spiritual institutions," reiterated the seer.