Yoginis are a class of divine and semi-divine deities who emerged in the 5th century AD and remained in worship till 13th century AD, after which their cult seems to have become extinct. Yoginis are now popular among the modern women as liberated Goddesses who had their own stance in society despite prescribed social sanctions. The symptomatic characteristics that define the Yogini cult include tightly bound clans or groups, association with magic and occult, martial prowess, sexuality and death. In Hirapur, one comes across a fascinating group of Yoginis who in their original mythological context had been confined to the roles of consorts, attendant deities and possessed women; However, with their entry into the Yogini cult they are transformed into individual ferocious deities. In this perspective it’s interesting to note the number of tours to Hirapur led by the trans-nationalist, feminist, spiritually orientated Goddess movement. There are many women’s only travel packages to Goddess sites which celebrate the sacred Feminine. Motivators for women travelers to visit Hirapur could be the following: Experience local (traditional) Culture Spend leisure time in temple premises, amidst heritage and cultural attributes Interest in History, Archeology and the tantric, yogini cult Escape from daily routine, for relieving tension and fatigue To have an opportunity for self-reflection(identity tourism) Appreciation of rural scenery Interest in religion, philosophy
