Pilgrimages to temples (Tirthyatras) have been integral to Hindu Dharma since ancient times. The post-pandemic influx of visitors at temples across the country recording historic numbers every passing year sounds like good news. But is it?

What is a Tirthyatra?

Etymologically, the term tirtha in Hindu Dharma means facilitating the crossing of the ocean of samsara, the cycle of birth and death, leading one towards liberation. Pilgrimage involves a deliberate physical and mental purification, with Hindus regarding all elements of nature, including mountains, hills, rivers, seas, tanks, ponds, plains, and forests, as sacred.

Pilgrim centres, typically associated with deities or temples, are consecrated by devatas, rishis, kings, Brahmanas, communities, or entire villages. These centres serve as places of worship for various yajnas, such as Deva yajna, Pitru yajna, Brahma yajna, and Bhuta yajna. Additionally, pilgrimages offer opportunities for manushya yajna through acts like annadaanam and providing accommodations for fellow pilgrims, emphasising a holistic approach to spiritual elevation and community service.

Footfalls in temples on the rise

According to available data, tourists visiting temples more than doubled from 2021 to 2022. In 2022, 1,433 million domestic explored Bharat’s pilgrimage sites, contrasting with 2021’s 677 million. Over 60% of Bharat’s tourism is centred around religious and spiritual experiences, with religious tourism generating 1,34,543 crore in 2022, a significant increase from 2021’s 65,070 crore, as the Ministry of Tourism reported. Anticipating 2023, approximately 70% of Bharatiya travellers express interest in spiritual stays, encompassing meditation and mindfulness retreats, while 63% are drawn to silent retreats.

Considering the increase in the crowds at major temples, one would think this is a Hindu resurgence, an awakening. However, the more one dwells deep into this, the clearer it becomes that this could be spiritual tourism.

Amidst record-breaking travel rates, a surge in spiritual tourism, emphasising inner transformation and holistic well-being, has emerged as a prominent trend. Although religious tourism involves visiting sacred sites, monuments, or destinations, spiritual tourism prioritises an individual’s inner journey, contributing to physical, mental, and emotional elevation. ‘spiritual tourism’ serves as an umbrella term encompassing both religious and spiritual travel experiences, showcasing its pivotal role in Bharat’s current travel resurgence.

Is this spiritual tourism good for Hindu Dharma?

The question is whether this kind of tourism is helping the Dharmic cause. Let us go back a few decades. Yes, the population was not as significant as today, nor did we have the spending power. But the temples are always overflowing with people. Be it Kashi, Mathura, Vaishno Devi, or even precariously located Kedarnath or Tungnath. The number of visitors every year is only increasing.

Admittedly, we need to attract youth towards Dharma and have some allurements for them. The Kashi Vishwanath and other temple corridors have modern ‘facilities’ like selfie points. However, this should only be a stepping stone for youngsters towards Dharma. The temple’s sanctity and pilgrimage shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of commercialisation and modernisation.

The pandemic ensured we would sit tight at home for a year or two. We could not even go on a long drive, let alone go on vacations. People seem to be travelling with a vengeance now and wonder how long this will last.

With technology penetrating our lives like never before, wherever we go, all we see is people taking selfies and posting on their social media handles. Some people have turned temples into places for marriage proposals. Netizens were enraged after a proposal video at Kedarnath went viral, leading to the temple committee banning phones and warning social media influencers. We also saw videos of people throwing cash on the sacred Shivalingam at Kedarnath. The more the media and camera penetration, the easier a holy place can get polluted.

People are always on their cell phones taking photos and videos. Can we remember the last time we could pray in peace? Did we always take selfies with the deity inside the garbagriha? Why are we allowing technology to dominate our religiousness? Will a photo on my Instagram prove enough that, as a Hindu, I have done my duty visiting, say, Rameshwaram or Char Dham, and will I get my assured place in Vaikuntham?

People are just checking off things on their bucket list, including religious places nationwide. Moreover, people go to the extent of disregarding the sanctity of temples for a few likes on social media. We see video advertisements on Instagram for businesses. We would have longed to go on a pilgrimage rather than as a tourist spot. Imagine seeing an Instagram reel recommending pizza and pasta restaurants in a holy place like Kashi!

You can also find vlogs on pilgrimages like Sabarimala, Kedarnath, etc. Very confusing as to what people are trying to achieve – are they promoting the place as a tourist destination or so-called spirituality? A pilgrimage is when we focus our energies on the deity, the religious process, the rituals, etc. Still, if we are so obsessed with taking pictures and videos, the sanctity of the whole thing is gone.

That is how it is today. People have more spending power. They are eager to show off their status. Ego creeps in when they boast to their friends and family that they have visited XYZ places that year.

Is this the meaning of a pilgrimage? Where is the natural religious feeling, the bhakti one would have when going on one? Does going on a pilgrimage not involve small sacrifices? Do we bother to be environmentally conscious? We throw plastic papers everywhere – even in an ecologically precarious Kedarnath or a Sabarimala? Can our temples withstand the influx?

What is stopping us from visiting our local temples, our grama devatas? The grama devata and other local temples offer the same solace. We also must visit our Kuldev/Kuldevi temple at least once a year. When was the last time you, dear reader, went on a pilgrimage to your ancestral village? The famous temples are always alluring; everyone wants to boast of having visited them at least once. But why are we neglecting our village and family deities in the process?

In Tamil Nadu, in November, December, and to some extent in January, the major temples are crowded – the reason – Ayyappa bhaktas, on their return from Sabarimala, visit major temples before heading home. Another group of devotees of the Mel Maruvathur Adiparashakti temple (often seen in red clothing) undertake a padayatra to the temple and visit other significant temples in the region. Similarly, devotees from different sampradayas visit temples, especially during these months.

This causes overcrowding in most temples, and with festivals such as Karthigai Deepam and Vaikunta Ekadashi in November and December, queues are serpentine, and one has to stand for several hours to glimpse the deity. Overcrowding leads to displeasure and dissatisfaction among devotees in getting the deity’s darshan.

Obsessing over the famous temples, missing out on our traditions, and forgetting our roots will only lead to misery. Friends, please remember a sacred place is not an item to be ticked off your bucket list or an event to show off on social media. We need to achieve a balance between attracting youngsters towards Dharma and maintaining Dharmic values.

(This article has been written by गूढगुल्फा & Maitri)