HS508: Indian Knowledge Systems

Reflection note on ‘Pan-Indian traditions of pilgrimage’.

Rajas P. Shah | 17110118 | Submission date: 24/01/20 Typeface:
Calibri, 12, 1.5 spacing. Word count: 428.

Pilgrimage as an agent of binding.

Today’s talk and the corresponding reading discussed many aspects of pilgrimage other than
religion: economic, spiritual as well as a means of cultural exchange. However, one facet that
I would like to highlight a bit more is the role of these pilgrimages in establishing a bond
amongst the pilgrims.

I would like to begin with an example. Being a Jain by religion, I have been on a yatra along
with my family and family friends – a group of around 50 people to various important Jain
dehrasars in Gujarat. And the experience, as one student today aptly pointed out was more
about the journey than the destinations. I got to know more about almost all the people-
whom I have known for years- in that one week than in all my previous years combined.

Such pilgrimages, not uncommon today across various sections of the Indian society – are a
means to bring together your friends and family together. One could almost compare this to
a get-together of sorts, except that those involved are also generally happy about the fact
that they are being part of a pilgrimage.

I have heard about several such pilgrimages conducted by local organisations; pilgrims are
especially the aged people, who are either devout or want to spend their time exploring the
places or both. Now, pilgrimage offers a great medium to bring about deep friendships
amongst the pilgrims – who might have previously barely known or seen each other – through
increased opportunities and need for interaction. As with trips, the time spent well is a fond
memory – and this creates a positive relationship with whomever one shares these memories.

Many families go to religious trips, where owing to time constraints, efforts are made to make
the journey shorter. These trips double up with tourism, something the tourism industry
knows and therefore makes efforts to give options to such tourists. Something distinct about
only-family pilgrimages is the mutual satisfaction which manifests itself as love and blessings
from the elders.
Thus, even today, pilgrimages continue to act as coalescing agents amongst the pilgrims. One
can thus compare them to the effect festivals have on human groups. For example, see the
Wari consisting of millions that go to Pandharpur in Maharashtra every year, it is like an
extended family of people who are informally obliged to mutually care for, travel and entertain
each other.

Thus pilgrimages are many-a-times a tool of bonding between the pilgrims themselves,
something I consider as important as the socio-economic as well as cultural exchange aspects
of Pan-Indian pilgrimages.