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Tags: Yatra View |
Tags: Yatra View |
Tags: Yatra View |
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Tags: Yatra View |
IASTY?tr? (Sanskrit: ??????, journey, procession), in Hinduism and other Indian religions, generally means pilgrimage to holy places such as confluences (Triveni Sangam) of sacred rivers, places associated with Hindu epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and other sacred pilgrimage sites. T?rtha-y?tr? refers to a pilgrimage to a holy site (Tirtha), and is generally undertaken in groups. One who goes on a yatra is known as a yatri.
A yatra is a kamya ritual; it is desirable, but not obligatory, for a Hindu to perform it. One can go on a yatra for a variety of reasons, including festivals (List of Hindu festivals), to perform rituals for ones ancestors, or to obtain good karma. To traditional Hindus, the journey itself is as important as the destination, and the hardships of travel serve as an act of devotion in themselves. Visiting a sacred place is believed by the pilgrim to purify the self and bring one closer to the divine.
In present times, yatras are highly organised affairs, with specialised tourism companies catering to the need of yatris. State (States and territories of India) governments are sometimes involved in the organisation of annual yatras, stipulating numbers, registering yatris, and regulating yatri traffic.