Soon it will be Hajj.
About two million pilgrims will gather in Mecca Saudiarabia.
These days its easy,but my grandma used to tell me epic stories of devoted people who traveled on foot and camels to Mecca.From the 19th century India,the round trip took 3 years.From china it took up to 5 years.
There is a famous account of a disabled man who travelled to Mecca for hajj,and it took him 7 years.
I have been to Mecca only once,not on Hajj,as Hajj is a set of rituals performed on certain lunar dates,once a year.
I was there in off peak season,and i went to that large circular mosque with the Black Cubical in the middle.It was late in th enight,and i though there will be less people,but i was wrong.I was hardly able to penetrate the crowd and go and touch the Black Cubical(Kaaba)., and kiss the black stone in the corner of the cubical.The stone is set in a circular solid piece of pure silver.It is said to be extra terestrial.
No i didnt come home with wings growing on my back,or some supernatural powers,but it was "feel good" trip.
Something that cannot really be explained.Same as a smoker cannot quantify and tell you what exactly they get from smoking.