 |
| (Representational image of a Tirta Yatra in ancient India, generated with AI) |
Attaching the word spiritual with any ism is oxymoronic because the former liberates and the latter confines. Tourism is visiting places of historic, political, ecological, natural, or artistic importance and experiencing the pleasures of other cultures, such as food, leisure etc.
'Spiritual tourism' that is being promoted by the govt. of India since 2014 needs a recast in both name and spirit. India should rather promote new Tirta Yatras in the line of those of ancient India. The root meaning of Tirta was the shallow part of a river or stream where people could walk or wade over to the other side. It assumed deeper meaning of visiting a sacred place/person in order to aspire for or experience spiritual liberation. Now the meaning may undergo another expansion, from that of liberation from earth to life divine on earth. Thus India my rather promote Tirta Yatras than spiritual tourism.