The Camino is not just to Santiago. Pilgrimage as a universal human phenomenon, other places and spiritual journeys and the beginning of the impressive Kumbh Mela
The Camino de Santiago and the Jacobean tradition are an inseparable part of the identity of a Compostela capital that beats to the rhythm of its pilgrims and visitors, a phenomenon that multiplies even more on occasions such as the Holy Year.
In general terms, however, pilgrimage is a practice present and common in almost all cultures and faiths and that can be defined as the journey made to a place of devotion, with an important religious connotation or considered sacred.
The Camino itself is our reality and the one with which we are most familiar, but the truth is that there are other examples that, always with their respective particularities, have a significance comparable to that of Santiago and in many cases dimensions that are sidereal higher.
The pilgrimage, the experience and the spiritual journey in the direction, and motivated by the arrival, of a designated destination are something as human as they are universal. Santiago is the Way, it is our I walk, but it is by no means the only one and the recent start in India of one of the largest pilgrimages and spiritual congregations on the entire planet is the best example of this.
The Kumbh Mela, which will mobilize hundreds of millions of people, reminds us of the human, universal and spiritual character of so many “pilgrims” who travel the planet along the same routes that have been traveled for centuries and heading to places with ancient times. and past as great or even greater.
The list is longer than many think with Santiago as one of its greatest exponents, but not the only one. These are just a few of many.
Kumbh Mela Festival, Prayagraj (this time), India
Before dawn on Monday, January 13 in India, a crowd of devotees entered the sacred waters where the Ganges and Yamuna rivers meet the mythical Sarasvati, thus marking the beginning of the Kumbh Mela, one of the most important religious traditions. of Hinduism. This year, the celebration, which runs until February 26, is expected to be the largest in history with an estimated attendance of 400 million people.
The event, organized every 12 years in different locations across the country, takes place this time in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, in a festival that commemorates a mythological battle between gods and demons over a jar containing the nectar of immortality. According to tradition, immersing yourself in these sacred waters during it cleanses sins and guarantees salvation.
On the other hand, the magnitude of the Kumbh Mela represents a logistical challenge even for a country like India (1.4 billion inhabitants), since its celebration involves hosting a crowd equivalent to the combined population of the United States and Canada.
For the occasion, 150,000 bathrooms, 68,000 streetlights and an extensive city of tents have been installed that covers an area that, according to some media outlets, would be comparable to two-thirds of Manhattan.
In the previous edition, held in 2019, an attendance of 240 million people was registered, according to official figures. This year, the expectation is to surpass that record and consolidate the Kumbh Mela as the largest spiritual congregation on the planet.
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the five pillars of Islam and represents a profound spiritual act that unites Muslims around the world. This rite, obligatory for adult Muslims who have the physical and financial means, consists of traveling to the holy city of Mecca and performing a series of specific rituals, such as the Tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba) and the Sa’i ( walk between the hills of Safa and Marwah). According to the Quran and hadiths, performing Hajj purifies sins and spiritually rejuvenates believers.
This tradition has its roots in the time of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail (Ishmael), who, according to Islamic tradition, built the Kaaba under divine guidance. The Hajj was institutionalized as an obligation in the 7th century with the prophet Muhammad, who established the current rituals.
Today, around two million Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca each year during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, reaffirming their faith and their connection to a shared spiritual history.
Varanasi (Benares), India
Varanasi, also known as Kashi or Benares, is one of the holiest cities in Hinduism and a central pilgrimage destination for millions of worshipers. Located on the banks of the Ganges River, this city, with more than 3,000 years of history, is home to more than 100 ghats, a type of stairs that descend to the river itself, where devotees purify themselves with ritual baths at dawn. According to Hindu tradition, visiting Varanasi at least once in your life and performing these baths ensures spiritual purification and salvation.
Last year, 2023, it consolidated its status as the busiest pilgrimage center in the world, receiving 20 million visitors. This increase is attributed to the modernization of the ghats, improved accommodation and better connectivity, which has facilitated the arrival of both domestic and international pilgrims. The city not only projects its rich spiritual heritage but also reaffirms itself as an eternal symbol of faith and tradition in the heart of India.
Bodh Gaya, India
Bodh Gaya, located in northwest India, is one of the most sacred places in Buddhism, recognized as the site where Siddharta Gautama achieved nirvana and became Buddha. According to tradition, the prince meditated for three days and three nights under a Bodhi tree, considered today a direct descendant of the original tree. This historic setting is dominated by the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, a magnificent complex declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In addition, the city is also home to numerous temples built by Buddhist communities from different countries, reflecting its international relevance. Year after year, thousands of devotees and pilgrims from all over the world flock to Bodh Gaya to meditate, pay homage and seek spiritual inspiration in this place that symbolizes the awakening and enlightenment of Buddhism.
Kumano Kodo, Japan
For more than a millennium, the Kumano Kodo, a network of pilgrimage routes on Japan’s Kii Peninsula, has witnessed the footsteps of emperors, aristocrats, and people from all walks of life. This set of paths connects the three great shrines of Kumano Sanzan, offering not only a physical journey, but also a spiritual experience marked by rituals of purification and worship. Walking along these routes allows you to enter the mountainous and deeply spiritual landscapes of Kumano, a unique cultural setting.
In 2004, the Kumano Kodo was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with other sacred sites in the region. Its relevance equates it, in fact, to our Camino de Santiago, these being precisely the only two pilgrimage routes that have this distinction. Beyond its history and natural beauty, touring the Kumano Kodo is to connect with centuries of tradition and experience the deep spirituality that emanates from the trails, nature and sanctuaries of a place that the oldest Japanese manuscripts define as a sacred place of Shintoism.
St. Olav’s Way, Norway
The Way of Saint Olav, located in northern Europe, is a pilgrimage route that culminates at the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway. This route, recognized as a European Cultural Itinerary, honors Saint Olav, a martyr king who died in 1030 after dedicating his life to spreading Christianity in the Scandinavian country. The cathedral, built over his tomb, stands as an emblematic spiritual and architectural center.
With an extension of 930 kilometers in its best-known variant, the Oslo Trail, this route combines physical effort with impressive views of the Norwegian landscapes. Mountains, forests and fjords offer pilgrims a unique experience that fuses faith and connection with nature in a way quite similar to the Compostela case.
Our Lady of Lourdes, France
In the heart of the French Pyrenees, Lourdes has become one of the world’s leading Catholic pilgrimage destinations, attracting 8 million devotees annually. This small town is home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, built around the Grotto of Revelations, where, according to Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Over six months, Bernadette witnessed 18 apparitions of a female figure that was identified as the Immaculate Conception.
Today, the sanctuary is a vast complex of temples and prayer spaces dedicated to Marian veneration, being a symbol of spirituality and devotion, it continues to be a global reference for believers and a testimony of Catholic tradition.
