PANAJI
The tourists in Goa would experience a new avatar of tourism on the boat cruises if the experimental initiative of offering a dose of spirituality succeeds.
This model concept was floated by the Tapobhumi Kundai’s Peethadheesh Brahmeshanand after launching the ‘Sagar Manthan’ initiative in Panaji. Calling the land of Parashuram a hub for spreading spiritual tourism worldwide, the Peethadheesh expressed that there is scope and potential of spiritual tourism in Goa, especially on the boat cruises that take the tourists to sea on fun rides.
The boat cruises in river Mandovi at Panaji attract a lot of tourist footfalls and taking advantage of this craze, spiritual tourism would be promoted on an experimental basis through these boat rides. The concept will be implemented under the ongoing Goa Spiritual Programme ‘Samudra Manthan’ jointly organised by the Sadguru Foundation and Shree Datta Padmanabh Peeth.
“Concepts of spiritual tourism cannot be with a mass seller but have to be amongst a selective group of individuals, on the same psychological playing field. Looking at the crowd on board the ship, in my opinion, does not gel well with the concept of spiritual experience,” opines Sanjeev Sardesai who had held in the past, the post of secretary for the Goa Travel & Tourism Club (now the Travel & Tourism Association of Goa) for three consecutive terms and was also a member of the high powered tourism board committee for formulation of the Tourism Policy of Goa for the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa.
According to Sanjeev, “An individual wishing spiritual experiences may not necessarily be selective of his or her ambience or the location, by choice. The level of expertise, of aligning oneself and bonding with the powers of the cosmos, may be markedly different for each and every individual; as such, whether one opts to attempt to seek spirituality, on land or water, is one's choice. Spirituality has today donned the skin of modernisation, and has parted ways with the original path of divine seekers. Seeking oneness with oneself in an ambience of silence, on a platform (read 'boat'), away from the city hustle and bustle could assist in the reduction of distractions and help in focusing, just as one would, when away and far off in nature's embrace. If that is the case, then this 'boat experience' is acceptable. But if it is an exercise of propagation of egos or adding to the social status or to be seen with the who's who, then it would be a pure mockery of the actual reasoning behind seeking spiritual satisfaction.”
Arguing that the recent Union Budget mentions a special arrangement of funds to offer spiritual tourism to the world, and Goa should not lag behind in embracing this concept, tour operators are welcoming the concept. “We plan to showcase the real culture of Goa to the tourists. If the experiment succeeds, we will be furnishing the detailed data to the tourism department,” stated tour operator Fondu Ashwekar.
The initiative also seems to be an effort to wipe out the image of Goa as the only destination for alcohol and gambling. ‘Sagar Manthan’ would showcase the rich, cultural and spiritual heritage of the State to the tourists, and take them on a visit to the hinterlands, ancient temples, streams and lakes as well as natural places of beauty, claim the promoters of the concept.
The boat cruises that offer food, drinks, dance and other fun activities would now consider offering a slice of Goa’s rich socio-cultural heritage to the domestic and international tourists, giving a message that Goa should not be remembered as a destination to enjoy alcohol or play gambling. How far this would succeed in its motive, only time will tell!
