The Practice of Religious Tourism Pilgrimage to Walisongo Among Nahdlatul Ulama Communities in the Digital Age

The phenomenon of pilgrimage to the tombs of the Walisongo among the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) community reflects not only a spiritual journey but also complex social practices in the context of modern culture, economy, and technology. This tradition demonstrates how religious rituals are practiced within a dynamic social framework, while also serving as a venue for community interaction. This study aims to explore the transformation of the Walisongo pilgrimage practice in the digital age and examine how such activities strengthen social solidarity and cultural identity among the NU community. Using a qualitative approach, this study is grounded in Pierre Bourdieu's theory of social practice, focusing on the concepts of habitus, social capital, and cultural capital as analytical lenses. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentary reviews. The research findings indicate that digitalization, particularly through social media, has altered how communities interpret and perform pilgrimage. Spiritual experiences are now often shared publicly, shifting pilgrimage into a component of religious identity construction in the public sphere. However, this change does not diminish the spiritual and social values inherent in the practice. On the contrary, pilgrimage practices remain a means of preserving local Islamic culture, strengthening social networks, and serving as an accessible religious alternative. This study reveals that despite modernization, the pilgrimage practices of the Walisongo remain relevant and adaptive in addressing contemporary challenges, making them a living manifestation of both religious and cultural expression within modern society.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
INFERENSI Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Keagamaan
Published
2025-10-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18326/infsl3.v19i1.73-94
Primary Topic
Religious Tourism and Spaces
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

The Practice of Religious Tourism Pilgrimage to Walisongo Among Nahdlatul Ulama Communities in the Digital Age

Rahmad Faizal, Arif Sudrajat, Dian Filippo Laily Ramadhan
INFERENSI Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Keagamaan
Religious Tourism and Spaces
article

The Practice of Religious Tourism Pilgrimage to Walisongo Among Nahdlatul Ulama Communities in the Digital Age

Rahmad Faizal, Arif Sudrajat, Dian Filippo Laily Ramadhan
article en

Abstract

The phenomenon of pilgrimage to the tombs of the Walisongo among the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) community reflects not only a spiritual journey but also complex social practices in the context of modern culture, economy, and technology. This tradition demonstrates how religious rituals are practiced within a dynamic social framework, while also serving as a venue for community interaction. This study aims to explore the transformation of the Walisongo pilgrimage practice in the digital age and examine how such activities strengthen social solidarity and cultural identity among the NU community. Using a qualitative approach, this study is grounded in Pierre Bourdieu's theory of social practice, focusing on the concepts of habitus, social capital, and cultural capital as analytical lenses. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentary reviews. The research findings indicate that digitalization, particularly through social media, has altered how communities interpret and perform pilgrimage. Spiritual experiences are now often shared publicly, shifting pilgrimage into a component of religious identity construction in the public sphere. However, this change does not diminish the spiritual and social values inherent in the practice. On the contrary, pilgrimage practices remain a means of preserving local Islamic culture, strengthening social networks, and serving as an accessible religious alternative. This study reveals that despite modernization, the pilgrimage practices of the Walisongo remain relevant and adaptive in addressing contemporary challenges, making them a living manifestation of both religious and cultural expression within modern society.

INFERENSI Jurnal Penelitian Sosial KeagamaanVol. 19(1)
State University of Malang (ID), Universitas Negeri Surabaya (ID)
Openalex Percentile: Top 65%
Religious Tourism and Spaces
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.