When the Ghats Call: An Exploration of the Spiritual Identity Development of Non-Indian Visitors in the Landscape of Varanasi

• Published in: Psychological studies 2019-06, Vol.64 (2), p.200-212
• Main Authors: Jaiswal, Prashansa, Duggal, Chetna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Faith; General Psychology; Hinduism; Identity; Personality and Social Psychology; Psychology; Religion; Research in Progress; Spirituality; Tourism
• ISSN: 0033-2968; 0974-9861
• DOI: 10.1007/s12646-019-00489-z

Spiritual identity can be shaped and reshaped by diverse perspectives, experiences, and contexts. Indubitably, an eclectic body of the literature exists on both spiritual tourism and the role of context in spiritual identity development. However, none has captured the process of spiritual identity development of people visiting and staying in a foreign landscape. A qualitative exploratory study was designed to explore spiritual identity development among non-Indian visitors in the spiritual landscape of Varanasi, a city in north India. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve non-Indian nationals who identified themselves as spiritual. After thematically analyzing the transcribed interviews, it was found that spiritual identification, worldview, and practices were constructed and refined as a result of interaction with the physical, religious, sociocultural, and historical dimensions of the landscape of Varanasi. Findings suggest that individuals coming to a foreign landscape are more than backpackers and undergo unique spiritual identity development journeys. Ergo, findings of this study necessitate the need of broadening the definition of a spiritual tourist, considering the complexity of spiritual development process in a spiritual landscape. Implications for future research are also discussed.