The concept of a pilgrimage is a very, very old one. Way before cruises and tour packages to the ‘holy land’ were crafted, Muslims all over the world dedicate a part of their lives to finding their way to Mecca. The Jews and the would-be Christians also do pilgrimages into the birthplace of their ancestors to pay their respects and to trace their roots.
A pilgrimage is a spiritual (yet literal) journey to specific places of significance, especially that of religious nature. Nowadays, a pilgrimage can be arranged as easy as contacting a touring agency and booking a packaged tour into the place of interest or organizing a church group for a collective excursion. Arrangements are relatively easy; however, the convenience is traded off by a significant amount of cash. At times it even appears to be more like a luxury tour than a religious excursion yet many people find it to be a worthwhile pursuit. Why do people do it?
At a time in someone’s life when he feels like he’s experienced and accomplished much, he may find himself in a point where he looks for a different kind of fulfillment. A kind of fulfillment that goes beyond the physical and financial sphere. This is why one notices that most pilgrims are the elderly. The beauty of a pilgrimage is that by going to a place that is actually distant from one’s home, he ends up finding himself.