Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place undertaken for religious or spiritual reasons. Pilgrims may seek spiritual renewal, atonement, mercy, healing, or the fulfillment of vows. While deeply personal, pilgrimages often involve shared practices such as prayer, ritual cleansing, offerings, or processions, and may be undertaken alone or in groups.

The word derives from Latin peregrinus, wanderer, via Old French pelerin, and has been used since the Middle Ages to describe travelers to holy sites. The concept appears in many religious traditions and spans both ancient and modern forms. In some cultures, the journey itself is as meaningful as the destination.

Common features include travel to a sacred site, participation in rites tied to the site, periods of abstinence or fasting, and the culmination in a ritual act at the sacred place. Routes, such as long-distance pilgrimage paths, may shape the experience and community.

Notable examples: in Islam, the Hajj and Umrah to Mecca; Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Rome, or Santiago de Compostela; Hindu pilgrimages to sites such as Varanasi, Rameswaram, and the Char Dham; Buddhist pilgrimages to Lumbini and Bodh Gaya; Sikh pilgrimages to Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar; Jewish journeys to Jerusalem during historical celebrations. These practices vary in scale and form across regions and traditions.

Pilgrimage remains a widespread practice in many faiths and also appears in secular forms, such as cultural or historical journeys. It can influence tourism and local economies and raise questions about accessibility, sustainability, and safety.