Pilgrimage, religion, economy and environment

A pilgrimage is at once a sacred journey, a local economy, and an impact on land and water. Consider a river festival: devotees seek blessing, boat owners earn a season's income, shops sell offerings, and the river bears waste and crowds. This chapter examines pilgrimage and religious tourism, religion and economy, culture and environment, and new religious movements, showing devotion, livelihood, and ecology in one frame. You will trace devotees, money, and environmental impact through one site to judge who gains and who bears the costs.