Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit

In News

• Recently, the third international airport in Uttar Pradesh, Kushinagar was inaugurated which will mainly service the Buddhist tourism circuit. 

Kushinagar and the Buddha

• Mahaparinirvana of Buddha: 
  • Among the most important of Buddhist pilgrimages, Kushinagar is the place where the Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (ultimate salvation) in 483 BC.
• Ancient linkage: 
  • Today’s Kushinagar is identified with Kusinara, capital of the ancient Malla republic, which was one of the 16 mahajanapadas of the 6th-4th centuries BC.
  • The area went on to be part of the kingdoms of the Mauryas, Shungas, Kushanas, Guptas, Harshavardhana, and the Palas. 
  • Kushinara is believed to have been inhabited until at least the 12th century.
• Excavation: 
  • The first excavations in Kushinagar were carried out by Alexander Cunningham and ACL Carlleyle, who unearthed the main stupa and the 6-metre-long statue of the Reclining Buddha in 1876. 
  • Kushinagar is among the very few places in India where the Buddha is depicted in reclining form.

Image Courtesy: IE 

• Mahaparinirvana Sutra: 
  • In the Mahaparinirvana sutra, the Buddha tells his followers that they can attain merit and a noble rebirth by going on pilgrimage to the places where he was born Lumbini, gained enlightenment Bodhgaya, first taught Sarnath, and attained Nirvana Kushinagar.

Buddhist Circuit

• The holy places of Buddhism, where Lord Buddha was born and He taught, preached, and attained ‘Enlightenment’ and ‘Nirvana’, are termed as Buddhist Circuit. 
• Vision: 
  • The Buddhist Circuit is transformed from a collection of sites to a holistic tourism experience that appeals to various traveller segments from which revenues and jobs generated make a measurable contribution to improving the quality of local life.
• Religious Significance: 
  • These are the spiritual homes of Buddhism, housing temples and monasteries of high religious significance, where followers of Buddhism associate themselves with the teachings of Lord Buddha. 
  • The Buddhist Circuit has evolved as tourist centres for not only the followers of Buddhism but also others.
• International Circuit:
  • In 2016, the Ministry of Tourism announced the Buddhist Circuit as the country’s first transnational tourism circuit, covering sites in Nepal and Sri Lanka alongside those in India.
• Buddhist Tourism Sites:
  • The ministry’s map of the Buddhist Circuit includes:
    • Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, and Rajgir in Bihar, 
    • Kushinagar, Sarnath, and Shravasti in UP, and 
    • Lumbini in Nepal.
• The major strengths of the Buddhist Circuit are:
  • It is “known” to Buddhists.
  • Already well-established as a major pilgrimage route.
  • A global market of 450 million Buddhists.
  • All countries with strong Buddhist cultures have monasteries on the circuit.
  • The importance of the Buddhist Circuit makes it attractive to non-Buddhists.

Image Courtesy: Maps of India 

Threats to the Buddhist Circuit

• Destruction and Pollution of Buddhist Heritage:
  • Population pressures and competition for resources may lead to encroachment of Buddhist sites
  • Traffic congestion around sites is potentially hazardous.
  • Air pollution may damage ancient relics (this is already happening in some places)
  • Destruction of relics and sites due to a lack of awareness and sensitivity towards the fragility of ancient sites
• Conflict of Traditions and Practices:
  • Buddhist sites set in Hindu and Muslim dominated communities may dilute Buddhist character and experience.
  • Lack of understanding among locals and pilgrims of respective lifestyles, needs, and traditions may cause insensitivity and conflict.
• Compromised Visitor Safety:
  • Hazardous road conditions may compromise the transportation safety of tourists.
  • Lack of hygiene and poor food safety standards may threaten visitor health and taint the circuit’s brand.
• Overlapping Government Mandates Result in Inaction:
  • There are multiple government agencies at the village, municipal, district, state and federal with unclear and in some cases overlapping mandates over sites on the Buddhist Circuit, aspects of connectivity, infrastructure development and market development; 
  • This threatens the viability of collective actions that might contribute to the transformation envisaged by stakeholders

Cultural Diplomacy: Significance

• Boosting Revenues:
  • There is an awareness in the government that the absence of tourist infrastructure is a major reason why India loses out to Southeast Asian nations such as Indonesia and Thailand. 
  • The hope is that world-class facilities will be able to attract Buddhist tourists to India and boost revenues and employment generation.
• Buddhist Circuit Train:
  • A Buddhist Circuit tourist train covers all destinations in 14 days, and helicopter services and more airports are in the pipeline. 
• Cultural Connect:
  • The internet, the social networking sites, our television channels, Indian movies, especially Bollywood, and visits by acclaimed musical and cultural troupes and theatre groups have contributed to the cultural connectivity across borders.
• India – Original centre of Buddhism:
  • The push is intended to assert and consolidate India’s position as the original centre of Buddhism, against the claims from China.

Challenges

• Low Footfall: 
  • It is surprising that while Buddhism originated in India and seven of the eight main Buddhist pilgrimage sites are in India, India gets not even 1 per cent of Buddhist pilgrims in the world.
• Poor Amenities: 
  • Lack of proper infrastructure and basic amenities, poor road conditions and absence of direct air connectivity have proved to be bottlenecks for Buddhist travellers.
• Barriers for Businesses: 
  • The tourism industry on the Buddhist Circuit has built up a solid foundation that can now be leveraged for expansion. However, there are barriers to the entry and expansion of new businesses.
  • According to surveys in several economies, most tourism operators consider taxes (both in terms of high rates and compliance costs) as substantial obstacles to business and investment. 

Way Ahead

• Cultural diplomacy and soft power are important instruments in regional and international cooperation and are of particular relevance in South Asia. 
• Culture and cultural diplomacy have emerged as the force to connect and to build bilateral relations. 
• India needs to disseminate its soft power through the institutions of cultural diplomacy for greater international understanding, peace and harmony. 
• Also, Indians have a responsibility to understand, nurture, strengthen and conserve this heritage for our future generations.

Source: IE