Myths and Legends Role in Transylvanian Rural Tourism: Testing Dracula Hypothesis in Bistra Muresului.

Mihai Voda 한국문화관광학회 2017 문화관광연구 Vol.19 No.2

Romanian rural tourism development is strongly related to mysticism and legends, being often viewed as the home of the myth of Dracula. The connection with Vlad Țepeș legends in the wild and esquisite Transylvanian landscapes, gives the needed credibility for those in search of strange but real places. Bran Castle near Brasov and Vlad Dracul house from Sighisoara fortress are the main tourist targets with hystorical links to the Romanian prince of Wallachia. But there are also real geographical locations, like the Borgo Pass and Isten Szek spectacular cliffs, described by the famous Bram Stoker in his Dracula book. This paper analyzes the less known places from rural Transylvania, that perfectly match with the real or imaginary travels of Jonathan Harker to the Count s cliff-top nest of Dracula Castle located near the Bistra Muresului village.

Transylvanian Saxon Churches Role for the Cultural Tourism Development

Mihai Voda,Calin Florea,Cristina Berariu 세계문화관광학회 2008 Conference Proceedings Vol.9 No.0

Romania is today improving its ways of practicing cultural tourism and the tourist infrastructure and is about to take a new strategy regarding cultural tourism activities by considering the experience of more modern countries. Romania has unique, specific possibilities to develop cultural tourism. Transylvanian villages with fortified Saxon churches give a full picture of cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. These villages are characterized by a specific system of land cultivation, a model settlement and organization of peasant households, held since the Middle Ages. The paper analyzes the Saxon churches importance for tourism development, the local legends myths and historical facts.

Kumbh Mela, in India, the World`s Biggest Religious Festival and Its Modern Makeover -A Study of Kumbh Mela, 2010, Haridwar-

( S. K. Gupta ),( Mihai Voda ) 세계문화관광학회 2010 International Journal of Culture and tourism Resea Vol.3 No.1

Pilgrimage to sacred places is a very ancient practice found almost universally across the world`s religions. The formation of Hindu places of pilgrimage was largely shaped through important rituals that were performed at a specific location. Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage. It occurs four times every twelve years and rotates among four locations in India: Allahabad (Prayag) at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, Haridwar along Ganga River, Ujjain along the Kshipra River and Nasik along the Godavari River. So Kumbh Mela is practically held every three years across the four locations. It is attended by millions of people on a single day. It is the largest religious gathering on Earth. The main & common reason for one to attend the holy festival of Kumbh Mela is to take dip in Holy River for taking human out of the circle of life & death (stage known as Moksha). Pilgrims & Sadhus in great number from around the world visit here to liberate themselves. A ritual bath at a predetermined time and place is the major event of this festival. The Kumbh Mela is no longer just about ash-smeared sadhus, saffron-clad cult-leaders and millions of rural devotees seeking salvation in a holy dip. The event at Haridwar is considered parallel the Commonwealth Games in Delhi as a trendy tourist attraction. With fancy facilities and a list celebrities coming on stealthy visits, the old festival has had a modern makeover. Tour operators had earned big valuable dollars and lift the industry from the 26/11 attacks last year in Mumbai and the economic downturn that followed. The paper includes the background, unique tradition, management and modern makeover and changes of this age-old festival.

Kumbh Mela, in India, the World's Biggest Religious Festival and Its Modem Makeover

S. K. Gupta,Mihai Voda 세계문화관광학회 2010 International Journal of Culture and tourism Resea Vol.3 No.1

Pilgrimage to sacred places is a very ancient practice found almost universally across the world's religions. The formation of Hindu places of pilgrimage was largely shaped through important rituals that were performed at a specific location. Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage. It occurs four times every twelve years and rotates among four locations in India: Allahabad (Prayag) at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, Haridwar along Ganga River, Ujjain along the Kshipra River and Nasik along the Godavari River. So Kwnbh Mela is practically held every three years across the four locations. It is attended by millions of people on a single day. It is the largest religious gathering on Earth. The main &common reason for one to attend the holy festival of Kumbh Mela is to take dip in Holy River for taking human out of the circle of life &death (stage known as Moksha). Pilgrims & Sadhus in great number from around the world visit here to liberate themselves. A ritual bath at a predetermined time and place is the major event of this festival. The Kumbh Mela is no longer just about ash-smeared sadhus, saffron-clad cult-leaders and millions of rural devotees seeking salvation in a holy dip. The event at Haridwar is considered parallel the Commonwealth Games in Delhi as a trendy tourist attraction. With fancy facilities and a list celebrities coming on stealthy visits, the old festival has had a modem makeover. Tour operators had earned big valuable dollars and lift the industry from the 26/11 attacks last year in Mumbai and the economic downturn that followed. The paper includes the background, unique tradition, management and modem makeover and changes of this age-old festival.

Kumbh Mela, in India, the World's Biggest Religious Festival and its Modern Makeover

S.K.Gupta,Mihai Voda 세계문화관광학회 2010 Conference Proceedings Vol.11 No.0

Pilgrimage to sacred places is a very ancient practice found almost universally across the world's religions. The formation of Hindu places of pilgrimage was largely shaped through important rituals that were performed at a specific location.Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage. It occurs four times every twelve years and rotates among four locations in India: Allahabad (Prayag) at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and mythical Saraswati River, Haridwar along Ganga River, Ujjain along the Kshipra River and Nasik along the Godavari River. So Kumbh Mela is practically held every three years across the four locations. It is attended by millions of people on a single day. It is the largest religious gathering on Earth. The main & common reason for one to attend the holy festival of Kumbh Mela is to take dip in Holy River for taking human out of the circle of life & death (stage known as Moksha). Pilgrims & Sadhus in great number from around the world visit here to liberate themselves. A ritual bath at a predetermined time and place is the major event of this festival. Other activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men/women and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are debated and standardized. The greatest features of this Mela are furious and exotic Naga Sadhus (The Naked ones) covered in ash, matted hairs. They are known as preserver of faith.Ten million Hindu pilgrims led by hundreds of ash-covered, naked holy men streamed into the sacred waters of the river Ganges on April 14, 2010 at the world's biggest religious festival. At the end of the four-month fair (January 14 to April 30, 2010) about 50 million pilgrims have visited the ancient and holy city of Haridwar, India. The Kumbh Mela is no longer just about ash-smeared sadhus, saffron-clad cult-leaders and millions of rural devotees seeking salvation in a holy dip. The event at Haridwar is considered parallel the Commonwealth Games in Delhi as a trendy tourist attraction. With fancy facilities and a list celebrities coming on stealthy visits, the old festival has had a modern makeover. Tour operators had earned big valuable dollars and lift the industry from the 26/11 attacks last year in Mumbai and the economic downturn that followed. The paper includes the background, unique tradition, management and modern makeover and changes of this age-old festival.