Pilgrimage in the world’s religions

Pilgrims travel to places associated with holy figures, revelation or miracles. The journey can express devotion, seek forgiveness or healing, fulfil a vow, mark a life transition or simply bring a person closer to God. Many traditions teach that the inner journey matters as much as the destination: the hardships of travel, separation from ordinary life and companionship with other pilgrims are part of the experience.

The hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able must perform it once in a lifetime, during the month of Dhu al-Hijja. Around two million people take part in a typical year.

Pilgrims enter ihram, a state of consecration marked by simple white garments for men, circle the Kaaba seven times, walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa, stand in prayer at Arafat, gather pebbles at Muzdalifah and stone pillars at Mina. The hajj coincides with Eid al-Adha. The umrah is a shorter pilgrimage that can be made at any time of year. Many Muslims also visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, and Shi’a Muslims make pilgrimage to the shrines of the Imams, such as in Karbala.

Christian pilgrimage developed early, with journeys to the Holy Land to see places associated with Jesus, especially Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. In medieval Europe, Rome and Santiago de Compostela in Spain became major destinations. The Camino de Santiago remains popular today, walked by hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Catholic pilgrims also visit Marian shrines such as Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal and Guadalupe in Mexico. Protestant traditions have historically been more cautious about pilgrimage, but many Protestants visit the Holy Land.

In ancient Israel, the Torah commanded three pilgrimage festivals, Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, when people went up to the Temple in Jerusalem. After the Temple’s destruction in 70 CE, the Western Wall, a remaining part of the Temple complex, became the most important place of Jewish prayer and pilgrimage. Jews also visit the graves of revered rabbis and figures, such as the tomb of the patriarchs in Hebron.

Pilgrimage, tirtha-yatra, is central to Hindu practice. A tirtha is a crossing place between the earthly and the divine, often by a river. Varanasi on the Ganges is among the holiest cities, where pilgrims bathe and where many wish to die or be cremated. Other major sites include Vrindavan, associated with Krishna, the Char Dham shrines in the Himalayas and the temples of south India.

The Kumbh Mela, held in rotation at four river sites, is among the largest religious gatherings in the world, drawing tens of millions of pilgrims to bathe in sacred rivers.

The Buddha is said to have recommended four places for pilgrimage: Lumbini, his birthplace; Bodh Gaya, where he attained awakening; Sarnath, where he gave his first teaching; and Kushinagar, where he died. Buddhists also visit stupas holding relics, sacred mountains and temples across Asia, such as the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka.

Sikh teaching emphasizes that the Divine is everywhere and that inner devotion matters more than travel. Even so, Sikhs visit historic gurdwaras connected with the Gurus. The Harmandir Sahib, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, is the most important, and its langar serves free meals to tens of thousands of visitors every day. Gurdwaras in Pakistan, such as Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, are also important destinations.

Pilgrimage is a sacred journey found across the world’s religions. Muslims perform the hajj to Mecca, Christians travel to Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago, Jews pray at the Western Wall, Hindus bathe in sacred rivers, Buddhists visit the sites of the Buddha’s life and Sikhs visit the Golden Temple. In each tradition, the journey is both outward travel and inner transformation.