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{{short description|political-based pilgrimages}}
The '''Ekatmata Yatras''' were a series of [[pilgrimage]]s and political strategies used to promote Hindu Polity or [[Hindutva]]. The strategy involved the mobilization of large pilgrimages ([[Yatra]]s) to gather support for pro-Hindu political positions. The concept of the Ekatmata Yatra was formulated by the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] in the early 1980s.<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" />

== Description ==
During the 1960s, the rise of [[Hindu nationalism]] in Indian politics resulted in several Hindu-supportive political parties and organizations growing in size and influence. One of these political parties was [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] (VHP), a right-wing organization which mobilized support for Hindu politicians and policies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.archivesofrss.org/Encyc/2014/1/16/Moropant-Pingle.aspx|title=Archives Of RSS|website=www.archivesofrss.org|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref> In 1983, VHP decided to organize a widespread series of political pilgrimages across India; these Yatras were intended to galvanize public support for causes that VHP supported. In particular, the pilgrimages were organized in such a way as to be Pan-Hindu, allowing members of all [[caste]]s to participate;<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=Y2buDDwdgIsC&pg=PA361&lpg=PA361&dq=Ekatmata+Yatra#v=onepage&q=Ekatmata%20Yatra&f=false|title=The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|date=1998|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=9780231103350|language=en}}</ref> this was in keeping with one of VHP's long-held opinions that the caste system should be suppressed.<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" /> The march was also focused around that idea that, by reigniting interest in Hindu religious rights, Hindus would be less susceptible to conversion attempts by [[Christians]] and [[Muslim]]s.<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" /><ref name="Mishra 2015">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=aGZtCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=Ekatmata+Yatra#v=onepage&q=Ekatmata%20Yatra&f=false|title=Vishwa Hindu Parishad : An Introduction|last=Mishra|first=Anil Kumar|date=2015-01-01|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan|isbn=9789351861959|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=JAFFRELOT|first=CHRISTOPHE|date=2009|title=The Hindu nationalist reinterpretation of pilgrimage in India: the limits of Yatrapolitics|journal=Nations and Nationalism|language=en|volume=15|issue=1|pages=1–19|doi=10.1111/j.1469-8129.2009.00364.x|issn=1354-5078}}</ref>

The first pilgrimage (later referred to as the First Ekatmata Yatra, translatable to "Pilgrimage of One Soulness"<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" />) began in November 1983, and involved thousands of Hindus undertaking a pilgrimage to various holy sites.<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" /> The pilgrims formed three processions; one from [[Kathmandu]] to [[Rameswaram|Rameshwaram]], a second from [[Gangasagar]] to [[Somnath temple]], and a third from [[Haridwar]] to [[Kanyakumari]].<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" /> These three main pilgrim parties were supplemented by dozens of smaller groups, and carried relics and idols with them.<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" /> Many pilgrims carried water from the sacred [[Ganges|Ganges river]] during the journey, and the columns of travelers often stopped at Hindu temples and holy sites to gather more sacred water.<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" /> All of the pilgrimage parties eventually congregated in [[Nagpur]].<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" /> The event involved Hindus from Burma, Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.<ref name="Mishra 2015" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=Dh1cBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT142&lpg=PT142&dq=Ekatmata+Yatra#v=onepage&q=Ekatmata%20Yatra&f=false|title=Pluralism and Democracy in India: Debating the Hindu Right|last=Doniger|first=Wendy|last2=Nussbaum|first2=Martha C.|date=2015-02-09|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199380930|language=en}}</ref>

The first of the Ekatmata Yatras was well-received by many practitioners of Hinduism, and as such the prestige of the VHP was increased.<ref name="Mishra 2015" /> Soon after the end of the marches, the organization was able to use the influence its high-profile pilgrimage had garnered to involve the organization in the ongoing [[Ayodhya dispute]].<ref name="Jaffrelot 1998" /><ref name="Mishra 2015" /> VHP organized the Second Ekatmata Yatra in 1995,<ref name="Mishra 2015" /> and the organization led two further pilgrimages (known as the 1996 Amarnath Yatra and the Baba Buddha Amarnath Yatra) in 1996 and 2005.<ref name="Mishra 2015" />
{{Portal|Hinduism}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Hindu pilgrimages]]
[[Category:Hinduism in India]]
[[Category:Political movements in India]]

Ekatmata Yatras - Revision history

>Headbomb at 23:36, 1 July 2021