This half term in our RE lessons, we have been looking at some of the ways in which people of different faiths (and none) mark important times in their lives. This week, we have been exploring the idea of Pilgrimage. A Pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded understanding of themselves, of others, of nature, or of a higher good, through the experience.
Many people undertake Pilgrimages as part of their journey of faith: Christians might make a pilgrimage to Lourdes in France, or to Fatima in Portugal, as these might be places of special significance to them. Similarly, there is an expectation within the Muslim faith that believers will make a Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca during their lifetimes - this is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Hindus, too, participate in Pilgrimage. There are numerous destinations which are spiritually significant for Hindus, but perhaps the best known is the Kumbh Mela, which is attended by many devotees seeking to bathe in the River Ganges.
This afternoon, Year 3 undertook a Pilgrimage of their own, focusing on finding out more about some of the different places in India which might be visited by Hindu pilgrims in search of higher meaning. They visited seven different stations in the Forest School area, before gathering together to share what they had learnt and reflect on the spiritual significance of Pilgrimage for people from all walks of life.
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