Some nudges can help !

Many have tried all means and exhausted themselves in trying to press on our socio-cultural leaders and organisers to inculcate a sense of discipline for the Ganga Talao pilgrimage.

What to do in the face of such irrational shortcomings for the Maha Shivatree pilgrimage without affecting the freedom of choice or without forbidding any relevant options or significantly changing devotees’ fervour or incentives ?

Policymakers seeking to promote behaviour change may help in encouraging a judicious mix of risk-savvy heuristics and behavioural nudges, based on a much-needed understanding of when each approach might work best.

(To be effective, nudges must follow a two-step process: First, the target behavior needs to be identified. Second, a choice architecture -the context in which people make decisions must be created or modified to make it easier for individuals to choose a better solution.)

Small interventions can change behavior and outcomes in a positive way and often bring large gains.

For e.g

1. Target behaviour :

a) Encourage people to build smaller and simpler kanwars instead of the oversized motorized kanwars (with state-of-the-art hi-fi system , playing their techno version of “Om Namah Shivaya”, bolstered in the background by the incessant nerve-racking , ear-splitting music) ( all costing some Rs 200,000)

b) Encourage the pilgrimage to be a congregation of devotees, pious, dignified and serene bringing forth a wellspring of devotional fervour - the celebration of the wakefulness of one's universal consciousness which is not in anyway sectarian but universal- the unity of the human race. And thus discourage the rowdy behaviour and the chaotic exuberance, unbridled crowd encroaching on the rights of others, disturbing people in the middle of the night, causing disruptions to the traffic, etc.

c) Restore to the Ganga Bassin pilgrimage its sacredness and religiosity

2. Choice Architecture : The funds collected by the different spiritual organisations allocated for

a) a Kanwar competition with different prizes ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 300,000 for the best aesthetic kanwars of a certain size , design, etc. and conveying a proper spiritual message .

b) special awards, prizes, incentives ... for the NGOs or groups of pilgrims or spiritual organisations that have shown a sense of discipline, respect for the highway code, respect for the environment, respect for others, religious fervour .....

c) creating an environment where the faithfuls can all sit down and meditate silently or do the round of the spiritual stands and attend spiritual lectures-"La voie du silence intérieur qui mène à la fusion sublime."

But to have such choice architecture we have to start by ridding the sacred place of the politicians and their fawning socio-cultural groups.