One of the facets touted by the authorities to attract potential tourists to Uttarakhand is the long list of religious and cultural festivals along with various other unique festive occasions.
While some of these traditional festivities are believed to have their origin in ancient times, there are others which are comparatively more recent.
In recent years, especially after the June 2013 disaster, there has been increased focus of the authorities and some sections of society on introducing new features and provide encouragement to varied aspects to make some occasions more elaborate and “attractive” to visitors who bring revenue generation along with them.
However, in some cases, native scholars and social thinkers among others are not in favour of what they view as distortion of ancient and new traditions with increased focus on the commercial aspects.
A section of the intelligentsia has expressed concern citing the event held at Kedarnath on the auspicious occasion of Ashtami with popular singer Kailash Kher rendering some devotional numbers and a telefilm based on this ancient shrine to lord Shiva in the form of Kedarnath being released by Chief Minister Harish Rawat.
Purists, environmentalists, scientists and even a segment of the native populace in the mountainous region of Uttarakhand are not sure whether it is a good idea to further push the concept of “religious tourism” at the cost of ancient spiritual traditions, social and environment related aspects which were observed more in the past than in the present.
A Government official on condition of anonymity said that concern was being expressed for some years now by members of the intelligentsia, scientists and others regarding the distortion of or apathy towards old native and religious traditions along with public sentiment being influenced by those with ulterior or commercial motives.
He said, “Even after the June 2013 disaster, there were some including senior officials who had then expressed concern and advised against maintaining human presence with heavy machinery all round the year at Kedarnath with a team from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) undertaking various repair and reconstruction works among other tasks.
The fragile and unique ecology of this Himalayan region is bearing the brunt of so called developmental activity especially due to the detrimental impact of unscientifically enabled human activity, operation of heavy machinery as seen in Kedarnath and aspects of commercialisation influencing the native culture of mountain society appreciated for both its simplicity and richness.
There is nothing wrong in thinking of income generation for public welfare but it is essential to pay attention to the religious and cultural aspects observed for ages but now being distorted for commercial gain.
Some members of the intelligentsia have also shared concern at the phenomenon, stressing that both the Government and people need to comprehend the importance and sanctity accorded to the different shrines, valleys and mountains in Uttarakhand and desist from approaching these with recreational activities in mind.