Defining and Classifying Pilgrimages

To make comparisons among the many forms of religious journeys, scholars need both an ac-ceptable definition of the phenomenon called pilgrimages and a workable classification scheme that reveals significant differences. Following a discussion about the elements that should be incorporated into a definition of pilgrimages, a formal statement is presented. This provides a basis for separating those traveling activities that should be studied as pilgrimag-es from all other forms of human movement. Further differentiation among pilgrimages can be achieved by categorizing them into a few distinct classes. Several criteria that logically could be utilized for dividing pilgrimages into various types are examined, but the final classification scheme depends on three factors. Each criterion is subdivided three ways, which produces a set of twenty-seven potential types of pilgrimages. Key words: pilgrimage, pilgrimage defined, pilgrimage classified. • Shortly before taking an examination, a college student travels by bus from Colombo to worship at the Kataragama shrine