INDIA, December 14, 2023 (Swarajya): India’s break-neck infrastructure development spree and increasing levels of prosperity have allowed more and more yatris to go on their favorite pilgrimages. Nobody expects better facilities or improved temple going experiences at any of the ancient, large temple complexes in India. Maladministration of heritage spaces is almost always a given, but we may be entering an era of worsening temple experience for the average devotee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has spearheaded projects such as the Kedarnath and Kashi corridor projects where a lot of old clutter has been removed and an attempt has been made to improve the temple going experience. The new corridors have in turn led to more pilgrims.

While the new Ayodhya temple has been built to take hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, many of the millennia old temple sites in South India are not. Built in eras before large-scale transport, these temples may be large but will need upgrades to help aged visitors and pilgrims with children. The queuing process during festive seasons and holidays has more or less destroyed the sanctity of a pilgrims darshan of the main Deities. Long wait times in cage-like structures, the jostling right at the sanctum sanctorum, poor lighting and ventilation – the temple administration almost never has the pilgrim’s darshan experience in mind. Heritage travel in India urgently needs new ideas and massive investments, every major temple town needs projects like the Kashi corridor covering larger old city areas. Temple administrators must find ways to engage and comfort the millions who will come to their temples – so far all that we have seen are more cages for queues and longer wait times.

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https://swarajyamag.com/commentary/indias-pilgrimage-paradox-booming-infrastructure-meets-deteriorating-temple-experiences

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