Focus on uplifting experience at religious places: Shekhawat
Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat today said a shift from monumental tourism to experiential tourism is being observed, and efforts should be made to uplift experience at the religious places.
He was addressing the 'sants' and representatives of religious places and 'tiraths' (pilgrimages) who reached here from various states to attend the first-ever Akhil Bhartiya Devsthanam Sammelan, on the occasion of International Gita Mahotsav.
The 'sants' raised the concerns related to the condition of shrines and gave suggestions to the minister during the conference. They also pledged to dedicate the Gita shalokas, to be recited on the occasion of Gita Jayanti, to the Hindus and temples in Bangladesh.
The Union Minister said: “Kurukshetra has immense potential to revive the ancient culture, rituals and thoughts of India. We can connect our people on the basis of faith, but to connect the people of rest of the world we need to present historical and scientifically validated evidences, and Kurukshetra has that potential. After Covid, the public’s perspective of seeing the world has changed. There is a shift from monumental tourism to experiential tourism. If we don’t uplift the experience in our places of faith, we are going to face challenges in future. Sanitation is the first thing to start with and we have to take a pledge to focus on these issues”.
Shekhawat said: “The Central Government is continuously making efforts and implementing plans to develop all pilgrimage sites in the country. The 'tiraths' have played a critical role in keeping the country united. Probably, this was the first such attempt where 'sants' of major religious places have assembled at one place to discuss the condition, situation and development of the religious places. The temples and 'tiraths' are not just the centre of religion and faith, but they also played a critical role in uniting this country, and also preserving the cultural heritage of this county despite various attacks on our culture, educational institutions and temples.”
“The sants have raised their concerns over the young generation going away from temples, and state governments collecting funds from temples. The issue of Bangladesh was also discussed and definitely the Hindus of this country are distressed and upset. The Central Government is making all efforts. Thousands of people participate in the prayers at all the 'tiraths' physically and virtually daily and we should take a pledge to start praying for the welfare and safety of Hindus of Bangladesh”, he said.
Shekhawat said: “More such conferences should be organised at regional levels. We should discuss how we can connect our places of faith with the public. Such efforts will connect all pilgrimage sites together through which the future generation will be connected to the culture and traditions.”
Kurukshetra Development Board CEO Pankaj Setia, board honourary secretary Upender Singhal, 48-kos Tirath monitoring committee chairman Madan Mohan Chhabra and various renowned 'sants' were present during the conference.
