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Pilgrimage (tirtha-yatra) as a significant practice in Hinduism: HSC Studies of Religion

Syllabus dot point

“Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Hinduism drawn from Marriage ceremony, Pilgrimage, Temple Worship; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Hinduism; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Hindu community”

HSCStudies of ReligionHinduism Depth Study14 min read

Quick answer

Hindu pilgrimage (tirtha-yatra) is a journey to a tirtha, a sacred "crossing place" where the human and divine meet. Major destinations include Varanasi (Kashi) on the Ganga, Shiva's city, where many hope to die or have their ashes immersed to attain moksha; the Char Dham (Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, Dwarka), linked by tradition to Adi Shankara; and the Kumbh Mela, held in rotation at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain and inscribed by UNESCO in 2017. Pilgrims take vows, live simply, bathe in sacred rivers, receive darshan, make puja offerings ("a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water", Gita 9.26) and perform rites for ancestors. Pilgrimage expresses belief in Brahman present in the world, the gods and goddesses (including the Ganga as goddess), karma and purification, bhakti and moksha. It purifies and renews the individual and unites families and the wider Hindu community across regions and sects; it is valued but not obligatory.

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  1. What this dot point is asking
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What this dot point is asking

The Hinduism depth study asks you to choose ONE significant practice from Marriage ceremony, Pilgrimage, Temple Worship, to describe it, show how it expresses Hindu beliefs, and analyse its significance for the individual and the Hindu community. This page covers pilgrimage (tirtha-yatra, "journey to a crossing place").

Hindu pilgrimage is enormously varied, from a family visit to a local shrine to the vast bathing festival of the Kumbh Mela. Describe a clear core (sacred places, vows, bathing, darshan, puja) and use two or three named sites as evidence.

The must-know spine

Terms: tirtha (crossing place), tirtha-yatra, darshan, puja, pradakshina (circumambulation), snana (sacred bathing), vrata (vow), tapas (austerity), punya (merit), shraddha (rites for ancestors), moksha. Sites: Varanasi (Kashi) and the Ganga; Char Dham (Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, Dwarka; Adi Shankara); Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2017). Text: Bhagavad Gita 9.26 (offerings with devotion). Beliefs: Brahman in the world; deities; karma; bhakti; moksha.

The answer

What Hindu pilgrimage is

A tirtha is literally a ford or crossing place. Sacred rivers, mountains, temples and cities are tirthas because they are believed to be places where the boundary between the human and the divine is thin, making it easier to "cross over" from samsara towards liberation. Tirtha-yatra is the journey to such a place.

Pilgrimage is valued but not obligatory. Hindus undertake it to fulfil a vow, seek a blessing, mark a life event, perform rites for the dead, or simply for devotion.

Major pilgrimage destinations

Site Significance
Varanasi (Kashi) Shiva's city on the Ganga, one of the seven holy cities; pilgrims bathe at the ghats at dawn; cremations take place at Manikarnika Ghat; many Hindus believe that dying in Kashi, or having one's ashes immersed in the Ganga there, brings moksha
The Ganga Worshipped as the goddess Ganga; bathing in the river is believed to purify from sin; pilgrims carry Ganga water home for rituals
Char Dham Four sacred abodes at the four corners of India: Badrinath (north), Puri (east), Rameswaram (south) and Dwarka (west), associated by tradition with Adi Shankara, who established monasteries (mathas) linked to them
Kumbh Mela A mass bathing festival held in rotation at Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain, recalling the myth of the pot (kumbha) of the nectar of immortality; inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017

Regional pilgrimages are equally important, such as the hill shrines of Tirupati and Sabarimala in South India, and Vaishno Devi in the north.

Pilgrimage in Hindu tradition

  • Texts. The Mahabharata contains an extended description of pilgrimage to tirthas, and the Puranas include mahatmyas, texts glorifying particular holy places and the merit of visiting them. These are smriti texts that describe and encourage the practice rather than command it.
  • Saints and teachers. Adi Shankara (8th century) is traditionally credited with founding monasteries (mathas) at the four corners of India, linked to the Char Dham. Bhakti saints travelled between shrines singing devotional songs, yet many also taught that God is found within the heart.
  • Three kinds of tirtha. Hindu teachers often distinguish sacred places (sthavara tirthas), holy people (jangama tirthas, such as gurus and saints) and inner virtues (manasa tirthas, such as truth and compassion), so that the pilgrimage of the heart matters as much as the journey.

A pilgrimage to Varanasi, step by step

  1. Intention and vow. A family decides to travel, perhaps to fulfil a promise made during an illness or to immerse a parent's ashes.
  2. Arrival. Pilgrims are often met by a pandit (priest) who serves their family's region and keeps records of their visits.
  3. Dawn bathing. At a ghat such as Dashashwamedh, pilgrims step into the Ganga, recite prayers and offer water to the sun.
  4. Darshan. They visit the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to see Shiva as Vishwanath, "Lord of the universe".
  5. Rites for the dead. Ashes are immersed in the river and shraddha is performed.
  6. Evening arti. Priests perform the Ganga arti on the ghats with great lamps as crowds watch and float small lamps (diyas) on the river.
  7. Return. Pilgrims take home Ganga water and prasad to share with family and neighbours.

What pilgrims do

  1. Vows and preparation (vrata). Many pilgrims take vows of fasting, celibacy, simple food or walking barefoot; the journey itself is a form of austerity (tapas).
  2. Sacred bathing (snana). Bathing in the Ganga or at a Kumbh Mela is believed to wash away sin and karmic impurity.
  3. Darshan. Seeing, and being seen by, the deity in the temple image is the heart of the visit.
  4. Puja and offerings. Flowers, fruit, lamps and water are offered; the Gita teaches: "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it" (9.26).
  5. Circumambulation (pradakshina). Walking clockwise around the shrine, keeping the deity on the right.
  6. Rites for ancestors (shraddha). Families immerse the ashes of the dead in the Ganga and perform rites at places such as Varanasi and Gaya.
  7. Charity and hospitality. Giving to the poor, to priests and to fellow pilgrims earns merit.

How pilgrimage expresses the beliefs of Hinduism

Belief Expression in pilgrimage
Brahman present in the world Rivers, mountains and cities are sacred because the divine is present in them; tirthas are points where the divine is especially accessible
The gods and goddesses Darshan of Shiva at Varanasi, Vishnu at Badrinath or Jagannath at Puri; the Ganga venerated as a goddess
Karma and purification Bathing and vows remove karmic impurity and earn merit (punya)
Bhakti Journeying, darshan and offerings express loving devotion (Gita 9.26)
Moksha Tirthas as "crossing places"; the hope of liberation at Varanasi
Dharma Fulfilling vows and duties to ancestors through shraddha
Unity of the tradition The Char Dham and Kumbh Mela map a shared sacred geography across India

Significance for the individual

  • Purification and merit. Pilgrims seek to remove sin and gain merit through bathing, vows and giving.
  • Devotion. Darshan at a famous shrine is, for many Hindus, among the most intense religious experiences of their lives.
  • Facing death and liberation. At Varanasi the pilgrim confronts the reality of death and the hope of moksha.
  • Fulfilling vows. Many pilgrimages fulfil a promise made to a deity in a time of need, such as illness or exams.

Significance for the Hindu community

  • Families and ancestors. Pilgrimage binds generations through rites for the dead and shared journeys.
  • Unity in diversity. The Kumbh Mela gathers ascetics of many orders and lay people of every region and caste; the Char Dham link north, south, east and west.
  • Religious institutions. Pilgrimage sustains temples, priests, monasteries and local economies.
  • Diaspora identity. Hindus abroad, including in Australia (2.7% of the population at the 2021 Census), make journeys to India or visit major local temples as pilgrimage, maintaining ties to the tradition.

Evaluating pilgrimage

  • Valued but not required. Bhakti saints taught that God is found in the heart; many Hindus see inner devotion as more important than travel.
  • Challenges. Pollution of sacred rivers such as the Ganga, the environmental impact of mass pilgrimage, crowd safety (for example the deadly crowd crush during the 2025 Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj) and commercialisation are real concerns, and have prompted Hindu leaders and governments to call for cleaner rivers and better management.
  • Diaspora. For Hindus in Australia, pilgrimage to India is costly and occasional; many treat visits to major local temples, or travel to India for family rites, as a form of pilgrimage.
  • Judgement. Pilgrimage remains one of the most powerful expressions of Hindu devotion and identity, with its value lying in the devotion it expresses.
Answering "Describe how ONE significant practice expresses ONE belief of Hinduism" (3 marks)

Step 1: Name ONE belief

"Hindus believe in moksha, liberation of the atman from samsara."

Step 2: Describe a specific part of pilgrimage

"Pilgrims travel to Varanasi to bathe in the Ganga, and many families immerse the ashes of the dead there."

Step 3: Link them

"Bathing at this tirtha, a 'crossing place', and the belief that death in Kashi brings liberation express the hope of moksha."

Common traps
Treating pilgrimage as tourism
Emphasise vows, darshan, puja and purification.
Describing sites without beliefs
Link each site and action to Brahman, the deities, karma, bhakti or moksha.
Calling pilgrimage compulsory
It is meritorious but not obligatory.
Ignoring diversity
Mention regional pilgrimages and different deities.

In one sentence

Hindu pilgrimage (tirtha-yatra) to sacred crossing places such as Varanasi and the Ganga, the Char Dham and the Kumbh Mela, with vows, bathing, darshan and offerings, expresses belief in the divine present in the world, the gods and goddesses, karma, bhakti and moksha, purifying and renewing the individual and uniting families and the wider Hindu community.

Try this

Q1. Identify TWO Hindu pilgrimage sites and their significance. (2 marks)

  • What the marker wants. For example Varanasi (Shiva's city, moksha) and the Kumbh Mela (purifying bath, recalling the pot of nectar).

Q2. Explain how pilgrimage expresses the Hindu belief in bhakti. (4 marks)

  • What the marker wants. Darshan, offerings (Gita 9.26), vows and devotion to a deity at a specific site.

Q3. Analyse the significance of pilgrimage for the Hindu community. (5 marks)

  • What the marker wants. Family and ancestral rites, unity across regions and sects, support for institutions, diaspora identity and challenges, with a judgement.

Exam-style questions

Questions in the style of NESA exam questions on this dot point, each with a worked answer. They are written by ExamExplained unless tagged "Past paper"; the year shows the paper a question is modelled on.

2025 HSC SoR II Q25 (a)Past paper3 marks
Describe how ONE significant practice expresses ONE belief of Hinduism.
Show worked answer →

Criteria (NESA 2025 marking guidelines, SoR I Q14(a), SoR II Q25(a)). 3 marks: describes how ONE significant practice expresses ONE belief of Hinduism, integrating relevant terminology. 2: outlines. 1: statements about Hinduism. (NESA's sample answer used temple worship.)

A 3-mark answer using pilgrimage.

  1. Belief. Moksha: liberation from samsara, the cycle of rebirth, the ultimate goal of Hindu life.
  2. Practice. Pilgrims travel to Varanasi (Kashi), bathe in the Ganga at dawn and, for many families, bring the ashes of the dead to be immersed in the river; many Hindus hope to die in Kashi.
  3. Link. Bathing in the sacred river to wash away karmic impurity, and the belief that death in Kashi brings liberation, express the hope of moksha, the release of the atman from rebirth.

Source: NESA, 2025 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2024 HSC SoR II Q25 (b)Past paper8 marks
Religious practices are the sacred threads that weave together adherents' beliefs and connect them to the divine. With reference to this statement, explain how ONE of the following practices expresses the beliefs of Hinduism: • Marriage ceremony • Pilgrimage • Temple worship.
Show worked answer →

Criteria (NESA 2024 marking guidelines, SoR I Q14(b), SoR II Q25(b)). 8 marks: a detailed and accurate explanation of how ONE significant practice expresses the beliefs of Hinduism, integrating the statement effectively throughout, with clear and relevant evidence and accurate terminology. 6 to 7: accurate, statement integrated. 4 to 5: some explanation. 2 to 3: outline. 1: general statements.

A top-band plan using pilgrimage. Treat each element of the journey as a thread.

  1. Tirtha, the crossing place. Sacred sites are where the human and divine meet, expressing the presence of Brahman in the world.
  2. Darshan and puja. Seeing and being seen by the deity (for example at Badrinath, Puri or Tirupati) expresses belief in the gods and goddesses as forms of the one divine, and bhakti (Gita 9.26).
  3. Bathing in the Ganga and at the Kumbh Mela. Purification of karmic impurity; the Ganga as goddess.
  4. Vows and austerity. Fasting, walking, simplicity: tapas that builds good karma and self-discipline.
  5. Varanasi and moksha. The hope of liberation at death; immersion of ashes.
  6. Char Dham. The four abodes linked by tradition to Shankara, uniting India's sacred geography.
  7. Close on the stimulus: every step of the journey connects the pilgrim to the divine and to the Hindu community.

Source: NESA, 2024 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2023 HSC SoR II Q25 (b)Past paper5 marks
Analyse the importance of ONE significant practice to the adherents of Hinduism. In your answer, refer to ONE of the following: • marriage ceremony • pilgrimage • temple worship.
Show worked answer →

Criteria (NESA 2023 marking guidelines, SoR I Q14(b), SoR II Q25(b)). 5 marks: an accurate and detailed analysis of the importance of ONE significant practice to the adherents of Hinduism, with clear and relevant examples and clear, accurate terminology. 4: accurate. 3: explanation. 2: general statements. 1: general statements about Hinduism.

Plan using pilgrimage.

  1. For the individual: purification and merit. Bathing at tirthas and keeping vows remove karmic impurity and build punya (merit).
  2. For the individual: devotion and liberation. Darshan deepens bhakti; Varanasi is associated with moksha.
  3. For families. Pilgrimages mark life events and ancestral rites (immersing ashes, shraddha at Gaya or Varanasi).
  4. For the community. The Kumbh Mela, on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2017, gathers vast numbers across caste, region and sect.
  5. Judgement. Highly valued but not obligatory; many Hindus stress that inner devotion matters more than travel.

Source: NESA, 2023 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2022 HSC SoR II Q25 (b)Past paper6 marks
Explain how ONE significant practice expresses the beliefs of Hinduism. In your answer, refer to ONE of the following. • Marriage ceremony • Pilgrimage • Temple worship
Show worked answer →

Criteria (NESA 2022 marking guidelines, SoR I Q14(b), SoR II Q25(b)). 6: a clear and detailed explanation of how ONE practice expresses the beliefs of Hinduism, integrated terminology. 4 to 5: clear explanation with relevant evidence. 2 to 3: some explanation. 1: a general statement. (NESA's sample answer used temple worship.)

Model (pilgrimage).

  1. Brahman in the world. Tirthas are crossing places where the divine is especially present; the Ganga is worshipped as a goddess.
  2. Karma and purification. Bathing (snana) at Varanasi or the Kumbh Mela is believed to remove karmic impurity.
  3. Bhakti. Darshan and offerings at shrines such as Tirupati or Badrinath express devotion (Gita 9.26).
  4. Moksha. Varanasi is associated with liberation; families immerse ashes in the Ganga.
  5. Dharma. Fulfilling vows and duties to ancestors (shraddha at Gaya or Varanasi).

Source: NESA, 2022 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2021 HSC SoR II Q25 (c)Past paper6 marks
The ashram* encourages a form of living through wisdom and guidance. (*ashram: a Hindu place of worship) How does ONE significant practice provide wisdom and guidance for the Hindu community? In your answer, refer to ONE of the following. • Marriage ceremony • Pilgrimage • Temple worship
Show worked answer →

Criteria (NESA 2021 marking guidelines, SoR I Q14(c), SoR II Q25(c)). 6: thorough and accurate information on how ONE practice provides wisdom and guidance for the Hindu community, with clear and relevant evidence and terminology. 4 to 5: accurate information with relevant evidence. 2 to 3: some information. 1: general statements.

Model (pilgrimage).

  1. Gurus and ashrams. Pilgrimage towns such as Varanasi, Haridwar and Rishikesh are full of ashrams where pilgrims receive teaching, satsang and the blessing of holy people.
  2. The Kumbh Mela. Ascetics and teachers of many orders gather, so lay pilgrims receive guidance and darshan of sadhus.
  3. Wisdom through experience. Facing death at Varanasi and the discipline of vows teach detachment and the impermanence of worldly life.
  4. Guidance for families. Priests at tirthas guide rites for ancestors and keep family records.

Source: NESA, 2021 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

Practice questions

Original practice questions graded from foundation to exam level, each with a full worked solution. Try them before revealing the solution.

foundation3 marks
Outline the main features of Hindu pilgrimage. (Original)
Show worked solution →

Hindu pilgrimage (tirtha-yatra) is a journey to sacred places (tirthas) such as Varanasi, the Ganga, the Char Dham temples and the Kumbh Mela. Pilgrims often take vows and live simply on the way, bathe in sacred rivers for purification, receive darshan of the deity, make offerings in puja, circumambulate shrines, and perform rites for ancestors.

Marking: 1 for the idea of tirtha, 1 for a named site, 1 for what pilgrims do.

core5 marks
Explain how Hindu pilgrimage expresses the belief in karma and moksha. (Original)
Show worked solution →
Karma
Pilgrims believe that bathing at tirthas and keeping vows remove karmic impurity and that pilgrimage earns merit (punya); austerity on the journey (tapas) is itself good action.
Moksha
Tirthas are "crossing places" towards liberation. Many Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi, or having one's ashes immersed in the Ganga there, frees the atman from samsara; families bring the ashes of the dead from around the world.
Bhakti
Darshan and offerings express devotion, which the Gita presents as a path to God: "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it" (9.26).
Effect
Pilgrimage turns abstract beliefs about karma and liberation into lived experience.

Marking (Original): 5 for accurate beliefs linked to specific features, with evidence and effect.

exam8 marks
Analyse the significance of pilgrimage for both the individual and the Hindu community. (Original)
Show worked solution →
Individual
Purification and merit (bathing, vows); deepened bhakti through darshan; reflection on death and liberation at Varanasi; a turning point in life; fulfilment of vows made in times of need.
Family
Rites for ancestors (immersing ashes, shraddha) and pilgrimages to mark births, marriages and recovery from illness.
Community
Pilgrimage centres sustain priests, temples and local economies; the Kumbh Mela gathers ascetics, sects and lay people in one of the largest religious gatherings on earth; the Char Dham map a shared sacred geography that unites Hindus across regions and languages; diaspora Hindus, including in Australia (2.7% at the 2021 Census), travel to India or visit local temples as pilgrimage.
Evaluation
Pilgrimage is not obligatory, and saints of the bhakti tradition taught that God is found within; environmental pressures on rivers such as the Ganga and crowd safety at mass gatherings are real challenges.
Judgement
Highly significant as an expression of devotion and a bond of Hindu identity, though its value depends on inner devotion.

Marking (Original): 8 for a sustained analysis of individual and community, evidence, challenges and a judgement.

Practise this

Sources & how we know this

Based on the official NESA syllabus. Not yet individually reviewed by a person; always check NESA and your school's materials for current rules.

ExamExplained