From the earliest times, pilgrimage, or travelling to a place of special significance, has been cherished in almost all religions and many cultures. Despite hardships, women and men, young and old, have undertaken journeys of pilgrimage for various reasons. Some have sought spiritual enrichment, others cultural and meaningful experiences.
For Baha’is, pilgrimage consists of guided visits to the Holy Shrines, various other sites in Haifa and Acre, Israel, associated with the Central Figures of the Faith, and the terraces and gardens on Mount Carmel. Every year, at the invitation of the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha’i community, thousands of Baha’is from every part of the world visit the Holy Land and spend nine days on pilgrimage. During this time, pilgrims are guests of the Universal House of Justice and have opportunities to interact with the institutions at the Baha’i World Centre. Among them are many Canadian Baha’is who enjoy the privilege of visiting the Shrines of the Bab and Baha’u’llah and other holy sites.
For Marc Lepage of the Magdalen Islands, Quebec, who recently returned from Haifa with his family, making a pilgrimage has been an uplifting spiritual experience.
“It’s such an incredible place. The beauty of the lands is breathtaking. The gardens that surround the Holy Shrines and other sites are a reflection of unity and harmony. We could see these principles in action through the architecture of the holy sites, administrative buildings, and people working at the Baha’i World Centre.”
Seeing people of all backgrounds who ceaselessly work to maintain a spiritual environment for the pilgrims was remarkable, says Lepage. “The attitude of young people from virtually every corner of the world volunteering at the World Centre was terrific. They were so respectful, polite, and welcoming. They created a special spiritual atmosphere for us to carry on our journey.”
It is also an opportunity for the pilgrims to witness the beauty and diversity of the international Baha’i community and to build bonds of friendships that last beyond the nine days of pilgrimage. Andrew Paul of Potlotek First Nation, Nova Scotia, is immensely proud to be part of the diverse international Baha’i community. He made friends with many pilgrims from different countries, one of them from remote Siberia in the Russian Federation. “I came to the realisation that being in the company of my fellow pilgrims, to me, was as important as being in prayer at the Shrines [of the Bab and Baha’u’llah],” he said of his experience.
Apart from the official program, pilgrims have the opportunity to visit other sites including the resting place of Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, wife and confidant of Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha’i Faith. She was the daughter of May Maxwell, who is known as “the mother” of the Baha’i Community of Canada. On one of the last days of his pilgrimage, Paul took the opportunity to play his hand drum and sing the songs of the Aboriginal peoples at the resting place of Ruhiyyih Khanum, who had devoted special attention to visiting and meeting with indigenous people on all continents.
For Baha’is, pilgrimage is a sacred duty and an inestimable privilege. In the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book, Baha’u’llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith, prescribed for every able believer the duty to strive to make a pilgrimage to one of the two Great Houses: the House of the Bab in Shiraz, Iran and the House of Baha’u’llah in Baghdad, Iraq.
Following Baha’u’llah’s passing in 1892, His Shrine in Bahji, just outside of Acre, in what was then part of the Ottoman Empire, was designated as a place of Baha’i pilgrimage by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, His eldest son and Head of the Baha’i Faith until his passing in 1921. Baha’is travelled to visit Baha’u’llah with great difficulty when He was alive, and following His passing, continued to visit the Holy Land as pilgrims. This practice continued through the period of the British Mandate, and then after the State of Israel was established in 1948.
To watch a video in which Baha’i pilgrims share personal testimonies and reflect on their experiences while on pilgrimage, please go to http://info.bahai.org/pilgrimage. (Available in both English and French.)