Dear colleagues,

A reminder regarding the call for papers for the 49^th Annual Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions (19–21 April 2024, Cardiff University, Wales).

Please send paper proposals by Friday 10 November 2023.

With best wishes,

Simon Brodbeck and Laxshmi Greaves (local organising committee)

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49^th Annual Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions

19–21 April 2024, Cardiff University, Wales

Theme: Pilgrimage in the Religions of South Asia

Keynote speakers:

1. Professor Max Deeg (Cardiff University)
2. To be confirmed

We are pleased to announce a call for papers for the 49^th Spalding Symposium, on the theme of ‘Pilgrimage in the Religions of South Asia’, to be held in person at Cardiff University, Wales, between the 19^th and the 21^st of April 2024. This symposium aims to bring together scholars from various disciplines (e.g., anthropology, archaeology, art history, religious studies, and textual studies) to share a dialogue on diverse aspects of pilgrimage, from the origins of traditions up to present-day practices and issues. Prospective speakers are invited to contribute papers addressing a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

• Pilgrimage narratives in texts and/or art
• Pilgrimage in mythology
• Mythology at places of pilgrimage
• Historical analysis of pilgrimage routes, sites, objects of worship, or practices
• Rituals, festivals, and practices associated with pilgrimage
• Personal motivations for specific pilgrimages
• Pilgrimage and gender/identity
• Pilgrimage without physical travel (e.g., mental pilgrimage and pilgrimage broadcasts)
• Pilgrimage in diaspora communities
• Sacred geographies and potent landscapes
• Interreligious interactions and/or contestations at pilgrimage sites
• Contemporary developments at pilgrimage sites or in pilgrimage practices
• Pilgrimage and commerce

Speakers will be allocated 40 minutes for their presentation and an additional 20 minutes for questions. We also welcome proposals from final-year PhD students, who will be allocated 20 minutes for their presentation and 10 minutes for questions.

If you would like to give a presentation, please submit a title, an abstract of approximately 300 words, and a short biography to greavesl@cardiff.ac.uk and brodbecksp@cardiff.ac.uk by Friday 10 November 2023.

A limited number of POSTGRADUATE BURSARIES will be offered to doctoral students whose proposals are accepted. Bursaries will include waiving of the conference fee, plus up to £200 to put towards travel and/or accommodation. Students wishing to apply for a bursary should include a short CV along with their proposal.