Problem of crowd management in religious cities

The sudden increase in crowd in religious cities has disturbed the balance. The pressure of millions of people on limited roads and resources has become a major challenge for the administration. Environmental problems, waste management and water crisis have now become permanent issues in these cities.

development of religious tourism

Religious tourism in India has always been a part of our cultural heritage. The sector has grown rapidly in the last decade, making Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura, and other cities world-class religious tourism centres. Governments are looking at this as ‘faith-to-economy’.

Impact on local residents

However, this development also raises some important questions. Is it not having a negative impact on the lives of local residents? Is the administration able to handle the increasing crowd during festivals? There has been an unexpected increase in religious tourism after the construction of Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

unplanned pilgrimage

The arrival of pilgrims to religious towns in India is often unplanned, making traffic jams and accidents common. There is immense pressure on security forces and administrative staff. Local residents face difficulty in reaching their homes.

Modernity and cultural preservation

The identity of religious cities lies in their antiquity and sanctity, but today these cities are rapidly turning into ‘modern pilgrimages’. With wider roads and modern facilities, the very nature of the religious experience is also changing.

future direction

India needs to learn from Western countries how to combine spiritual heritage with modern conveniences. Anticipatory planning of tourism will have to be done, in which the opinion of local residents and cultural conservation should be given priority.