Hyderabad: Psychologists state that the opportunity to achieve the desired goal of being able to visit holy shrines is the topmost priority for many people and they can see only the goal and nothing beyond that.
Psychologist Dr Pragya Rashmi explained, “For many people in the lower strata of society, visiting a religious place is a moral responsibility and that is their goal. Hence they indulge in rituals per se but whether those are being felt deep within is a larger question. The acts that they indulge in in their daily life are considered normal by them. Hence, if they do the same during a pilgrimage it is not thought otherwise. For those who are indulging in illegal or corrupt acts it is because they are always looking for an opportunity to exploit the best. Hence whether they go on pilgrimage or any other normal routine act if they get an opportunity they will merely go ahead and exploit it. The consequences do not matter as in daily life it was normal so it is believed to be normal also otherwise.”
Many of those who make the most of an available opportunity are not first time offenders or they have seen offenders who are roaming scot free. With these examples around, they are encouraged to do likewise.
Dr Preeti Swaroop, a senior member of the Hyderabad Psychiatrics' Society, said, “Religious travels have increased nearly three to four times and this makes one wonder whether they have available disposable income to indulge in the same. There are cases where people do not have money. So what are they going to achieve? They are either borrowing or indulging in illegal acts. But most of them show no remorse till they are caught by the law enforcing agents. The reason is that the social pressure is too high. The advent of social media has created competition among people and families where each one wants to show that they too can achieve what the affluent claim to have achieved. For this reason, the goals are set in such a manner that they want to fulfil them by hook or by crook. The theology of religion in most of these cases is secondary in nature. In some we find that it is merely lip service and they tout loudly so that they are seen as one of the staunch and honest followers.”
