[GHHF] Converted Hindus from Christianity are undertaking Pilgrimage to Lord Venkateswara Temple on Tirumala Hills; Boarded train and started singing Bhajans.

08 Oct 2023 826 Views

"I believe any sensible man is unknowingly a Hindu and that the only hope for man lies in the abolition of the erratic, dogmatic, unphilosophical creeds people today call religions." Alain Danielou a.k.a  Shiv Sharan (1907-1994)
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is very happy to announce that we have initiated a pilgrimage to have a darshan of Sri Balalji on the Tirumala Hills and receive the blessings. Sri Gopi Krishna Acharya and Sri Raviji have planned this pilgrimage to converted Hindus to ensure that they remain Hindus, practice Hinduism, and become role models for others. As we all know these converted Hindus have withstood so much pressure from Christian Pastors and threatening them dire consequences. Our Priests have been in constant contact with them giving them enough strength to face the pressure imposed on them by Christians. 
    They started a three-day journey from Anantapur to Tirupati. You can see based on the pictures that they boarded the train, and they were singing songs on various Gods and goddesses. 
What is Pilgrimage and its significance?
Pilgrimage is a significant aspect of religious tourism in India. People undertake pilgrimages to connect with the divine and seek blessings for various reasons. Some of the more common reasons include appealing for divine intervention to solve personal problems, seeking forgiveness and salvation for having done something wrong, and working on or obtaining spiritual enlightenment or rebirth 1
India is home to many religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Sufism. Each religion has its own ways of making these divine pilgrimage connections. In some cases, the pilgrimage is a required obligation, while in others, it is the voluntary nature of such trips that inspires followers to travel to sacred places 1.
Religious tourism, mostly in the form of pilgrimage, is the number one contributor to India’s domestic tourism. India’s Hindu religious sites, in particular, consistently receive a high number of visitors, but so do Muslim and Buddhist sites. For example, at the national level, the two cities that receive the most inter-state domestic tourists (tourists crossing state boundaries) are pilgrimage destinations. The hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati (in Andhra Pradesh) often tops this list due to its famous Venkateswara Hindu Temple. At the state level, pilgrimage cities also lead with visitor flows 12.
People undertake pilgrimages in India to connect with the divine and seek blessings for various reasons. Religious tourism is an essential aspect of India’s domestic tourism industry and contributes significantly to its economy 12.
Hindus believe that pilgrimage is an important aspect of their faith and should be carried out if possible. 
Kiran Shinde says that people seek connections with the divine in sacred places for many reasons. Among the more common are:
1.    Appealing for divine intervention to solve personal problems.
2.    To seek forgiveness and salvation for having done something wrong.
3.    To work on or obtain spiritual enlightenment or rebirth.
Each religion and faith has its own ways of making these divine pilgrimage connections. In some cases, the pilgrimage is a required obligation. But in others it is the voluntary nature of such trips that inspires followers to travel to sacred places.
While the formality and depth of experience in religious tourism varies widely, it is still a significant part of the larger world of tourism. A World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) report in 2011, for example, estimated that “approximately six hundred million national and international religious and spiritual voyages” were taking place annually. (Source: Medium)
In conclusion, pilgrimage is an essential part of Hinduism, and it helps Hindus connect with Brahman, show their belief in God, gain a better understanding of an important holy site, and work towards achieving moksha.
DONATIONS
PayPal Method: To donate visit our website: savetemples.org. Click on the Donate button, then press the Purpose category, and select the “Sunday School – Bal Samskar” category.
By Check: Or you can send a check payable to Global Hindu Foundation,. It is tax-deductible.
By zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com
By Rupees, please contact us by either phone or email.
For more information, call Prakasarao V Velagapudi; Email: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com

Discuss:

Related Posts