Arts & Culture
Pilgrimage Networks and Transnational Religious Communities
Quick fact
The Kumbh Mela in India is one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth, attracting over 100 million people at its peak, and it has been instrumental in sustaining Hindu identity across the Indian diaspora by reinforcing shared ritual practices and social networks.
Why this is interesting
Every year, millions of people pack their bags and travel thousands of miles to a single spot—some to walk in the footsteps of saints, others to bathe in a sacred river. What is it about these journeys that keeps entire communities connected across borders, generation after generation?