ニューヨーク・タイムズのインスタグラム(nytimes) - 10月5日 11時13分

For centuries, people have traveled to the tip of the thumbnail island Dhanushkodi in southern India. It’s here that the Ramayana, a central epic for Hindus, says Lord Rama crossed a bridge called Rama Setu to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana in modern Sri Lanka. The trip to Dhanushkodi is a bit easier for pilgrims today. They no longer have to walk or go by 4-wheel-drive vehicles to the site; today, there’s a blacktop road with reflectors and a direct train line connecting pilgrimage sites in northern India to Rameswaram, a port town near Dhanushkodi. The improved access has brought in waves of tourists, and practically every family living here has cashed in. Here, photographer @lokeatul captured devotees at the beach. Recently, a team of researchers announced their intention to conduct an underwater exploration of Rama Setu, to determine once and for all whether the formations visible on the ocean floor are naturally occurring or made by humans. Many of those pushing to explore the site have stopped short of saying they hope to find the bridge. But some historians warn that politicians have deliberately played down hard scientific evidence for the soft power gained by developing pilgrimage sites. “Let’s face it, the pilgrimage places have a dual role,” said Romila Thapar, an Indian historian. “They always have a role for religion and for commerce.”

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