The Spirituality Industry: A Deep Reporting Project

Across India's cities and rural landscapes, religious cults, characterised by devotion towards a charismatic leader or ideal, are expanding their influence promising spiritual solace and refuge. While these groups often present themselves as wellness centers or spiritual retreats, many of them operate as complex organisations that blur the lines between faith, business, and exploitation.

The News Minute has a history of exposing cults – including Nithyananda’s ‘Kailasa’, which has been forced to operate underground today. For the next year, our reporters will be on the ground, looking at various religious cults in the country, to uncover how they operate, where they get their funds from, their secrets and why they are attractive among certain age groups, communities etc. 

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