Culture tourism big draw in US

Enrolments for India based programmes has seen spurt, writes Shalini Narang in California Diary.

Sojourns by American high school student groups to Indian destinations for an educational and cultural expedition are gaining in popularity and participation.

Organisations in US conducting spring and summer tours report an incline in enquiries and enrolments on their India based programmes.

The USP of these excursions is to provide an educational and cultural exposure that extends beyond tourism. The students get to experience the ancient and diverse lingual, religious and geographical heritage of India not as tourists but as active participants.

Cultural immersion is made possible via home stays with host families, lingual training, wilderness exploration, service projects and interaction with community leaders. Most programmes have two to three leaders with 10 to 12 students.

Visions of India-Varanasi, Ganges and Other Sacred Places is one such programme organised by a Colorado based organisation called Wheretherebedragons. The mainstay of this five-year-old expedition to the sacred eastern Indian city is a revelation to the religions and rituals of the place and its people.

Chris Yager, the Director of Wheretherebedragons, says: "the reactions of our first time visitors to Varanasi range from shock and surprise to a soul stirring spiritual journey. Many of our students go back for a revisit."

The everyday events reported with enthusiasm and awe by students range from overwhelmingness at the sight of numerous people, visits to the local markets, use of squat toilets, participation in the host family traditions and local festivities to eating with hands and many others. Each of these experiences help the participants in gaining insight to a way of life that is very different and unique from the individualistic, commodity rich and hygienic western way.

Chris Yager, adds, " Our programme to Varanasi has been full for the last four semesters. We choose Varanasi as the Indian destination because the city provides a blend of cultural richness and religions. The students get an exposure to comparative religions like Hinduism and Buddhism in Varanasi." This thirteen-week semester program comes at the hefty price tag of $10,000.

The participants engage in community service in leprosy colonies, provide instruction in local schools, interact with scholars from Bananas Hindu University, world renowned musicians, traditional doctors and local artisans.

"Some students maintain a long term relationship with regional organisations that they are exposed to during their stay and raise funds or run community awareness programmes in US for those institutes after returning back, says Chris.

The programme of Massachusetts based GlobalRoutes titled The Pilgrimage Through Time to South India complements travel with participation in community activities. The programme will commence at Bangalore to give the students a peek into the progressive and modern cityscape of India.

The curriculum includes visits to ancient temples and ruins of Vijaynagar, a tour to beaches of Kerela, a yoga workshop with community service at a village school and home stay with host families. At about $5,500 per student for its maiden five-week tour to south India in summer this year, the group has got ten enrolments.

Priya Chandrasekran, the Global Routes Programme Director for Asia and Africa Programmes says, "I am working with a contact in Kerela to finalise the details of the institutes and host families for our students. We intend to give the participants an educational and cultural tryst to help them gain an understanding of the world and make them introspect and question the choices that they will make in life moving forwards."

These intensive programmes exposing the American youth to Indian culture are a step in the right direction especially in perspective of a shrinking world where knowledge of other religions, regions and practices are imperative.

Inter cultural experiences help people broaden their horizons to become citizens of the world. Youth is the best age and stage in life to gain these diverse dimensions.