Exploring the Impact of Free Pilgrim Services on Spiritual Experience: A Study at Tirumala Tirupati with Moderating Role of Demographics

Abstract

The objective is to identify the elements that affect satisfaction with the services offered, such as quality, complimentary meals, transportation, lodging, medical care, cleanliness, volunteer assistance, and religious guidance, in relation to the mystical experiences encountered by religious tourists. Additionally, the study will explore the possible moderating effect of the socioeconomic status of pilgrims on the correlation between service satisfaction and their overall experience. The timetable for the survey was disseminated to local visitors in Tirupati along with Tirumala who engaged with the darshan for Sri Venkateswara, under the auspices of Tirumala at Tirupati. The Devasthanam board formulates policies and initiatives concerning living conditions, public transportation, communication, food and beverage supply, sanitation, safety precautions, darshan, medical facilities, as well as seminars and festivals. The findings indicated that contentment with public transportation and religious guidance served as independent indicators for an experience of spirituality. Moreover, the forthcoming actions of pilgrims considerably influenced the correlation between satisfaction as well as ancillary offerings and expertise. The Devasthanam administrators have the capacity to enhance the spiritual journey by ensuring the provision of comfortable transportation and dependable religious services to direct pilgrims towards important sites.