Pilgrimage and Politics in the Desert of Rajasthan
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23712827 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marzia Balzani (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Pages | 211-224 |
| Publication date | 2020-05-27 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | CHAPTER |
| Venue | Contested Landscapes (SOURCE_BOOK) |
| Publisher | Routledge (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.4324/9781003085089-17 |
| OpenAlex | W2979329453 |
| ISBN | 9781003085089 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
This chapter examines the mutual transformations of ritual and landscape in the desert region of Rajasthan in contemporary north-west India. These transformations are understood in relation to the social and religious history of the area; the equally important mythical understandings of the region; recent political transformations which have taken place in India; the violence of communalism serving to divide Hindu from Muslim; environmental concerns; and the modern reworking of the caste system. Pilgrimage always involves a displacement of persons through a landscape, and this landscape is often portrayed as dangerous, physically, politically and spiritually. Every pilgrim entrusts him- or herself to the forces of nature and to the friendly disposition of the gods. The 1986 pilgrimage can also be seen as part of a more widespread effort to reinvent the traditional role of maharaja as a way of recapturing political power on the regional and national levels, in part by indirectly influencing tourism.
Ancient history · Archaeology · Desert (philosophy) · Geography · Pilgrimage · Political science · Politics · History · Law · Religion and Sociopolitical Dynamics in Nigeria · Religion, Society, and Development · Religious Tourism and Spaces
| Citations per year | 0.13 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2010 - 2013 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |