Abstract
This study explores Umrah’s significant growth as a religious tourism model in Indonesian Muslim society. The discussion examines factors that influence that growth, from the increased income levels of Indonesian middle-class Muslims to the Umrah propaganda generated by the wave of social media. This study will also capture Umrah as a solution for Indonesian Muslims to the long waiting queue for Hajj quota in Indonesia, as it is seen as a good opportunity for religious commodification through the touristic market being exercised by stakeholders such as policymakers and travel agencies. As the Umrah tourist market will be analysed in this study from the perspective of capitalism, Umrah in Indonesia is also seen as a set of rituals that offer opportunities for commerciality; in fact, Umrah propaganda is also complemented by popular culture and consumption trends. This finding will highlight how Umrah has transcended the boundaries of traditional religious rituals and entered the realm of Muslim popular culture, which may also be seen as a convergence between aspects of spirituality and aspects of materialistic consumerism. This phenomenological research will employ literature to understand Umrah through its different sociological layers and dimensions and how this particular ritual reflects a blend of Indonesian Muslim spirituality and pop-consumption culture in Indonesia.
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Recommended Citation
Madyan, Syamsu; Abyad, Habil; and Karimullah, Imam Wahyudi
(2025)
"The Modern Pilgrimage of Umrah: The Convergence of Spiritual Devotion and Pop-Consumer Culture in Indonesia,"
International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage:
Vol. 13:
Iss.
2, Article 3.
doi:https://doi.org/10.21427/q4d8-q466
Available at:
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol13/iss2/3
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21427/q4d8-q466
DOAJ Index
1