A major portion of South Asia's cultural and spiritual identity roots from religious tourism. Every year, millions of pilgrims travel to places like Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, Mecca, Pashupatinath, and the Golden Temple. Yet, underneath this aura of enchantment lies the unforgiving stench of atrocities. Preying on the vulnerabilities of devotees and the economic opportunities around these pilgrimage routes, human trafficking rings operate and flourish in the shadows with no one second-guessing their safety in a place of worship.
Though heavily unregulated, religious establishments in the South Asian subcontinent generate billions of dollars annually. The Global Slavery Index published a report in 2018 revealing that over 40 million people from all over the world are victims of modern slavery, with South Asia accounting for the most sizable portion. Trafficking networks leverage the high number of visitors, many of whom are struggling or travelling for the first time, to exploit them for forced labour, sex trafficking, and organ trafficking.
For example, the Puri Jagannath temple in Odisha—a UNESCO heritage site —has long been a hub for traffickers. News headlines cover cases of child lifting and missing children during the Rath Yatra, with thousands abducted or coerced into trafficking networks. Similarly, at the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, missing child reports spike through the roof. Many of these children are never seen again.
Religious events attract massive crowds, overwhelming law enforcement and administrative agencies tasked with maintaining order and safety. This creates gaps in vigilance, which traffickers readily take advantage of. Pilgrims, many ignorant of the dangers of human trafficking, become easy targets due to their lack of information or preparedness. Compounding the issue, cultural taboos in religious societies often discourage victims from reporting abuse, fearing the possibility of bringing shame to their families. Despite high-profile human trafficking cases linked to religious gatherings, governments generally do not take decisive action. Concerns over potential backlash or harm to tourism revenue frequently outweigh the urgency of tackling these crimes.
Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate, has publicly condemned child trafficking in all its forms, urging global acknowledgement of its existence as one of the most severe violations of human dignity. He emphasised, "Child slavery, including trafficking, remains one of humanity's ugliest crimes. It is an intolerable evil and a crime against humanity that must be eradicated. Recognition of this crisis is the first step, but it requires collective action. Greater political will, corporate responsibility, and public engagement are essential. Every individual has a moral obligation to protect children from such exploitation and ensure their freedom, safety, and future."
The United Nations has increased its focus on combating human trafficking within the tourism sector, reflecting the urgency of addressing this intersection of crime and industry. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) specifically highlighted the exposure created by pilgrimage tourism to conditions for exploitation. At the 2023 session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, a resolution was adopted urging the member states to embed anti-trafficking frameworks into their tourism strategies.
However, discussions are merely an exchange of words and ideas, rarely leading to actionable measures, revealing a gap in global advocacy. South Asian governments have failed to elevate this issue to international platforms or adopt comprehensive measures, effectively enabling trafficking networks to persist in the thriving religious tourism industry with impunity. The administrative offices in towns like Mathura, Varanasi, and Puri have faced severe criticism for the lack of action against these crimes. Despite repeated cases of trafficking and child lifting, authorities dismiss them as isolated cases. Investigations are rarely thorough, and convictions even rarer.
Religious morals place a strong emphasis on justice, compassion, and safeguarding the weak. However, the breach of these ideals in trafficking hubs presents a serious moral dilemma: can the sanctity of religion unintentionally permit exploitation? Are we letting faith be used as a weapon against its core principles by not holding traffickers accountable?
Governments must take action to combat human trafficking in pilgrimage hubs by establishing specialised task forces, enforcing and running consistent background checks for vendors and service providers, and collaborating with NGOs like Childline India Foundation and survivor networks like Apne Aap to create victim-centred policies. Advanced technology like AI surveillance and real-time databases can help track missing persons during large gatherings like the Kumbh Mela. Religious leaders and faith communities also hold a crucial responsibility to foster awareness, encourage reporting, and support survivors, creating a united front against exploitation in sacred spaces.
It is shameful that places of devotion become breeding grounds for such heinous crimes. Faith cannot justify the exploitation of the vulnerable. It is imperative to ask whether religious tourism when marred by human suffering, justifies its prioritisation over human rights and safety. As custodians of both moral and legal responsibility, it is imperative for states to reevaluate their stance and stand by the people they represent, balancing the preservation of religious freedoms with the urgent need to dismantle the crime networks thriving in these sacred places.
Are these sacred spaces truly holy if they concede to suffering? Share your thoughts on the issue in the comments below, or email us at larra@globalindiannetwork.com.
