Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-3951-9614
Abstract
The interaction between Balinese ethnic Hindus and India in the modern era is reestablishing a connection between Balinese local knowledge with Hindu religious destinations in India. Balinese folklore mentions various holy places, including the Ganges River, which is considered part of Bali's sacred worship domain. This ceremonial tradition causes the ethnic groups to worship the Ganges and request for holy water, eliminating the need for the direct pilgrimage to the holy place. In the modern era, the tradition of seeking holy water has evolved into a driving force behind the interest in the pilgrimage to the Ganges River. This leads to a shift in religious interpretation from worshiping the Ganges to embarking on a journey to the holy place. Therefore, this study aimed to express the transformation by exploring the pilgrimage tendency, religious reinterpretation, and the pilgrimage experience of ethnic Balinese Hindus at the Ganges River. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to address these objectives, complemented by a quantitative approach, using purposive sampling. Data collection included literature reviews, observations, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires. The collected data were subjected to both descriptive quantitative and interpretive qualitative analyses. The results showed that there was a rising trend in the pilgrimage among ethnic Balinese Hindus due to the reinterpretation of the tradition of seeking holy water, which manifested as the pilgrimage to the Ganges River. In addition, this reinterpretation has led to a positive and enriching the pilgrimage experience, motivating repeated visits.
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Recommended Citation
Sutarya, I Gede and Chooksukhserm, Thanakorn
(2025)
"Religious Reinterpretation in the Pilgrimage Experience to the Ganges River, India of Balinese Ethnic Hindus,"
International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage:
Vol. 13:
Iss.
3, Article 9.
doi:https://doi.org/10.21427/csrz-s869
Available at:
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol13/iss3/9
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21427/csrz-s869