Purpose of Pilgrimages
Religious believers have made pilgrimages to sacred sites since ancient times. Today Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, as well as members of other religions, still travel to shrines for a variety of purposes.
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Devotion
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Many believers make a pilgrimage to holy places as a sign of religious devotion. Jews go to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Muslims to the Kaaba in Mecca, Hindus to the sacred River Ganges.
Penance
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During the Middle Ages, when travel was arduous and often dangerous, Christians did penance for their sins by going on pilgrimage to a far-off holy place such as the shrine of St. James in Compostela, Spain.
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Thanksgiving
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Some believers go on pilgrimage as a sign of gratitude, to give thanks for a prayer that has been answered.
Healing
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Shrines that have a reputation for supernatural healing, such as the shrine of Lourdes in France, attract pilgrims who are seeking to be cured of a physical ailment.
Religious Tourism
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Some travel companies specialize in pilgrimages that visit many holy places during the course of a tour. The motivation in this case is usually religious devotion combined with a desire to see many shrines that have religious, cultural and artistic significance.
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