Travels of the Faithful
Sunday
The religious pilgrimage known as the hajj is one of the “five pillars” of Islam, required of all muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey. Every year, millions of faithful travel to the Ka’bah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for this purpose.
Monday
The world’s largest religious gathering is the Kumbh Mela, in which upwards of 100,000,000 Hindus gather in one of four Indian cities every few years. The reason is a unique legend: While the gods churned a pitcher containing the nectar of immortality, four drops spilled out, one landing in each of these cities. Kumbh Mela means “pitcher festival.”
Tuesday
The “Camino de Santiago” or “Way of St. James” is the name given to several different routes through Spain (or Portugal) that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela on Spain’s northwestern coast, where the tomb of the Christian apostle James is believed to be. About 500,000 people a year travel these routes.
Wednesday
Millions of Hindus visit Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, India each year to see a glimpse of the Makara Jyothi star, a light believed to be the Hindu god Lord Ayyappan blessing his faithful.
Thursday
The Arba’in is the largest annual gathering in the world, bringing tens of millions of mostly Shia muslims to Karbala, Iraq in honor of the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammed’s grandson.
Friday
Lumbini, in modern Nepal, was the reported birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha. One of the four places which Buddha advised his followers to visit, the city now welcomes over 1 million visitors annually.
Saturday
Now nearly 22 centuries old, Jerusalem’s Western Wall is one of the holiest sites for Jewish pilgrims. The only remains of two earlier temples destroyed by the Babylonians and Romans, it is also called the “Wailing Wall” due to the tradition of mourning the original temple and praying for its restoration.