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Key Points

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized how India's saint tradition maintained national unity despite centuries of foreign rule. He spoke at a global spiritual tourism conclave in Ujjain alongside Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The event explored integrating ancient spiritual practices with modern tourism technology and economic development. Sessions covered temple economies, digital spirituality, and urban planning around sacred sites.

Key Points: Shekhawat Credits Saints for Uniting India Despite Invader Rule

  • Saints preserved India's spiritual values during foreign rule
  • Spiritual tourism conclave held in Ujjain with 300 global participants
  • Event bridges ancient wisdom with modern tourism experiences
  • Temple economies drive local development through pilgrimages
2 min read

'Saints kept India united despite invaders' rule': Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says India's saint tradition preserved cultural unity through centuries of foreign rule at Ujjain spiritual tourism conclave.

"One after another great saint kept India united - Gajendra Singh Shekhawat"

Ujjain, Aug 27

Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat claimed on Wednesday that despite various invaders ruling the Indian subcontinent, it was the great saints who helped in keeping the country united.

“Despite many hurdles and being ruled by different invaders, India could preserve its spiritual and cultural values only due to the saint tradition and their pilgrimage. One after another great saint kept India united,” claimed the Union Minister during his inaugural address of the global spiritual tourism conclave in Madhya Pradesh's religious city Ujjain. The Union Minister was accompanied by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at the event, organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), and the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the state government.

The event focused on “promoting” India’s spiritual tourism through a future-ready lens and witnessed participation from over 300 spiritual leaders, scholars, and experts from across India and abroad. The conclave provided a space to discuss the evolving dimensions of spiritual tourism, aiming to bridge ancient wisdom with modern experiences.

It emphasised not only religious significance but also economic potential, urban planning, and sustainable development. On this occasion, delivering the keynote, spiritual teacher Gauranga Das inspired attendees with insights on spirituality in the context of global transformation.

The Conclave will feature several thematic sessions, including a special session on 'Jyotirlingas' in the Jyotirling Circuit to highlight the significance and preservation of India’s 12 Jyotirlingas. Another special feature will be the temple economies session to highlight how major temples such as Tirupati, Vaishno Devi and Kashi Vishwanath drive local economies, with insights drawn from the Maha Kumbh 2025, which attracted over 660 million devotees.

A dedicated session, ‘Mandala of Mahakal — Ujjain’s Spiritual Power and Urban Future’, will spotlight the sacred significance of Shri Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, the impact of the Simhastha Kumbh and innovations in urban development. Other sessions will explore new frontiers of spirituality, such as ‘Mind, Body and Soul: Wellness as the New Spiritual Frontier’, focusing on integrating Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation with tourism, and ‘Divine in Digital — Spirituality 2.0’, discussing how technologies like virtual darshan, AI and VR can make spirituality more accessible.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
While I appreciate our spiritual heritage, I wish the minister also acknowledged the role of ordinary people and diverse communities in preserving our culture. It wasn't just saints but millions of families passing down traditions generation after generation.
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Arjun K
Spiritual tourism is such an untapped goldmine! Places like Ujjain, Varanasi, and Tirupati can generate so much employment while preserving our heritage. Good initiative by the government 👍
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Sarah B
As someone who visited Ujjain last year, I was amazed by the spiritual energy and historical significance. The Mahakaleshwar temple is truly magnificent. More international tourists should experience this!
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Vikram M
The digital spirituality session sounds interesting! My elderly parents would love virtual darshan facilities. Technology can make our ancient traditions accessible to everyone, including NRIs and people with mobility issues.
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Nikhil C
Hope they focus on infrastructure too. Spiritual places need better facilities, cleanliness, and crowd management. Otherwise tourism growth will become a problem instead of opportunity.

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