procesions

A procession is a group of individuals, most often religious or secular, moving along a public road or route in an orderly fashion. These organized marches are common in many cultures and serve a variety of purposes, including religious observance, celebration, commemoration, or protest.

Religious processions are perhaps the most widely recognized. They often feature participants carrying religious symbols, icons, or statues, and may be accompanied by music, chanting, or prayers. These events can be part of festivals, holidays, or acts of devotion, such as the carrying of a saint's relics or the Blessed Sacrament. Examples include Corpus Christi processions in Catholicism or Shobha Yatras in Hinduism.

Secular processions can also be significant. These might include parades for national holidays, military parades showcasing armed forces, or processions for important civic events. Mourning processions, or funeral processions, are solemn gatherings that escort a coffin or casket to its final resting place.

The organization of a procession typically involves a designated route, a starting and ending point, and often a specific order of participants. The scale of processions can vary greatly, from small local gatherings to massive, internationally recognized events. They are a form of public ritual that allows for collective expression and shared experience.