Travel Experience
Devi Yatra is a tour designed and led by Roxanne Kamayani Gupta, Ph.D. (Syracuse University) Indian classical dancer, anthropologist of religion and specialist in Tantra, Mother Goddess Worship and Indian Ascetic traditions. She has over twenty-five years experience living, studying, and travelling in India. Her commitment to international education and east-west exchange dates back to her junior year in college which she spent alone on a truly independent study of dance and culture in Hyderabad, South India. Studying under leading gurus of Indian classical dance, taking initiation into kriya, hatha, and tantric yoga traditions, and eventually marrying into a North Indian family, Roxanne developed an insider's view of Indian culture which laid the foundation for the next twenty five years of her involvement in Indian art and culture.*
As on-site director of the New York State Independent College Consortium in 1994 and 98, Roxanne gained invaluable insight into both the promise and challenges of international education in an increasingly global marketplace. She further developed personal and professional contacts in educational, governmental and religious institutions throughout the subcontinent which she puts to good use for the benefit of cross-cultural exchange. In designing and leading Devi Yatra, Roxanne expresses and shares both her love for India, and the Great Goddess: A pilgrimage of discovery and adventure, and insight for individual and planetary healing.
* For the complete story, see A Yoga Of Indian Classical Dance: The Yogini's Mirror
Annapurna Devi, Dr. Roxanne Kamayani Gupta & Shri
Amritanandanatha at ShriMeru Temple in Devipuram.
My Philosophy of "Tourism"
This tour is a spiritual and educational pilgrimage to selected sites of Goddess worship in India. For this reason, before signing up for such a tour, participants should be aware of the special responsibilities and requirements of a program of this nature. Because we will be coming into contact with Hindu pilgrims, holy men and women, and other types of religious believers, participants must be coemmitted in advance to cultural sensitivity and respect for the native's customs and religions. At many times certain forms of dress and conduct will be required to comply with the tenets of a faith or cultural norm. There may even be some instances where we will not be allowed equal access to religious sites and must accept our status as "outsiders."
As tour leader I will do my best to keep you "clued in" as to what behavior is appropriate for different contexts. Although Indians are a very hospitable people, and a certain amount of accommodation to tourists has recently become more developed in India, the types of experiences we will be seeking will require us to accommodate to India, not the other way around. At the same time, (with the exception of students taking this tour for academic credit) participants are free to choose to participate or not in any of the rituals and activities of the tour provided it does not interfere with the tour activities of the whole group.
