Beyond binaries: Cārvāka materialism and reimagining Asian leisure

Leisure in the West is distinctively different from that of the East is a dominant theme in leisure scholarship. This dichotomy presents Eastern leisure as collectivist and spiritually inclined, and Western leisure as individualistic and informed by hedonism. However, within Eastern traditions, there is philosophical pluralism and diversity, which is often ignored. For example, the Indian Cārvāka philosophy emphasises empiricism, sensual pleasure, and materialism, offering a striking counter-narrative; however, such narratives are often overlooked. Using Nepal’s tourism promotional slogans as empirical evidence, this paper examines the closeness between Cārvāka and Western leisure ideas and offers a provocative re-reading of Asian leisure. The paper acknowledges the limitations of relying too heavily on a single lens in understanding Asian leisure and calls for more comparative, cross-cultural inquiries that incorporate diverse philosophical traditions. The study contributes to critical leisure scholarship by challenging the essentialist binaries and inviting a more nuanced understanding of leisure across cultures.