Spiritual Well-being and Healthy Ageing among Salvation-Seeking Elderly Migrants in Varanasi, India: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Varanasi, widely regarded as the holiest city in Hinduism, attracts elderly migrants who migrate later in life to pursue moksha and spiritual fulfilment. While spirituality is increasingly acknowledged as a determinant of healthy ageing, there is limited empirical evidence regarding the influence of spiritual well-being on the ageing experiences of salvation-seeking elderly migrants in sacred settings. This study investigated the relationship between spiritual well-being and healthy ageing among elderly migrants residing in selected ashrams in Varanasi, and examined how sacred environments, daily spiritual practices, and communal ashram life shape their lived experiences. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 140 participants aged 60 years and above using a structured questionnaire informed by Fisher’s Four Domains Model of spiritual well-being and the World Health Organization’s Healthy Ageing Framework. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted. To complement these findings, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The results indicated high levels of both spiritual well-being and healthy ageing among participants, with environmental and transcendental dimensions being most prominent. The sacred geography of Varanasi, strong religious faith, and consistent engagement in spiritual practices were found to significantly contribute to participants’ well-being. Qualitative findings generated three interrelated themes: migration as a spiritual journey to Varanasi, the role of spiritual practices in fostering inner peace and resilience, and the importance of ashram life in creating social connectedness and belonging. Participants described ageing as a meaningful and accepted phase of life shaped by devotion, community living, and detachment from material concerns. The study concludes that healthy ageing in this context is deeply embedded

in spirituality and attachment to sacred places, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive ageing policies that integrate spiritual and social dimensions of well-being