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A pilgrimage is a sacred journey taken for a spiritual purpose – to worship, to seek the truth and to visit a site where a significant religious event happened. Hindus have many different important sites of pilgrimage associated with stories of gods and goddesses. Most of them are in India. The river Ganges, and especially the city of Varanasi, is an important site where pilgrims can be found all year round. Kumbh Mela, probably the biggest pilgrimage on Earth of any religion, takes place once every 12 years.

Purpose of pilgrimage for Hindus

Hindus go on pilgrimage for many reasons, including:

• to seek pure understanding of Brahman (or Ultimate Reality)
• to express their faith
• to fulfil a spiritual promise
• to remember a relative who has died
• to gain insight into stories of the gods and goddesses
• to work towards liberation, or moksha

Hindus achieve these purposes through ritual bathing, among many other community activities.

Varanasi, a city on the Ganges, has many stories of Shiva associated with it. The Ganges is India’s most sacred river (though Hindus believe that all rivers are sacred). People bathe there to achieve purity of mind and soul.

Kumbh Mela is the world’s largest pilgrimage. It is held at four different sites, and the major Kumbh takes place once every 12 years. Hindus hope that this pilgrimage will allow them to be blessed by God and help them achieve their ultimate goal of moksha through their devotion.

Pilgrimage for Vaishnavites

Worshippers of Vishnu, who are called Vaishnavites, recognise the value of visiting four holy sites in the north, south, east and west of India, called the Char Dham. All four are associated with stories of Vishnu.

Pilgrimage for Shaivites

Worshippers of Shiva, who are called Shaivites, recognise the value of many pilgrimage sites associated with stories of the god Shiva. These include 12 centres of pilgrimage all over India that are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.