A pilgrimage is a journey to a site declared as holy, which promises privileged access to a transcendent sphere beyond the immanent reach of the pilgrim. Traditional pilgrimage sites such as Rome and Mecca have been declared holy by religious institutions. Latterly, secular equivalents such as Graceland have arisen which have been declared quasi‐holy by specific social groups. Furthermore, all pilgrimages have three additional components in common: they are liminal states in extraordinariness, are accompanied by rituals, and offer the prospect of transformation and enrichment, in the sense of a rite of passage that pledges social tribute and enhancement of prestige. Pilgrimage can be conceived as religious practice. Because of its individual composition, its touristification, and its proximity to spirituality, pilgrimage is a form of popular religiosity that features a specific combination of individuality and sociality. The specific interaction of tradition, communitas , and individual composition constitute the contemporary popularity of pilgrimage.
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