Pilgrimage

The Pilgrimage is a festivity and holiday held every five years in the month that follows Midsummer's Eve, where Boshaari of all stripes and colonies visit New Eldelyn, the capital city of Aistanar, and gather in celebration. It is an old Fallanist tradition which was revived by Praetor Bili in the 91st Cycle in order to foster unity and community amongst the various Boshaari colonies. During the month of Pilgrimage, people converge on New Eldelyn.
Pilgrimage is a time of celebration amongst Boshaari but also gratitude, where people attend shrines and visit families. Many festivals are held in this period, and it is customary to swarm bath towns and beach resorts, especially as the holiday is funded by the government of Aistanar. Many of the most famous festivals only occur during Pilgrimage month, such as the Sun Chariot Parade, where people wear disguises and mingle in masked balls. A special tournament of Korlon has also been introduced in the last Pilgrimage.

History

The Pilgrimage has religious roots in the trials and tribulations of the Sophia Æsima, the early disciples of the Inheritor. For thousands of years, pilgrimages were held on-and-off at the whim of various powers and polities.
After the Great Jump, the various Boshaari colonies that emerged started to stray from each other, threatening the unity of the Boshaari Council itself. In the 91st Cycle, the tradition was revived by Praetor Bili in a bid to foster unity and religious fervour. At first, the Pilgrimage was a one-off holiday, enabling people to celebrate and perform secular duties, and giving the government an excuse to put into place profound citizenship reforms. However, public enthusiasm was such that five years later, a new Pilgrimage was held, and this custom has perdured ever since.

Secular role

By decree of the Boshaari Council, attendence and participation are necessary to obtain several citizens' rights, and Boshaari often swarm specially designed government offices throughout its duration. Even if the traditional five-caste system has little sway in modern-day Boshaari culture, children are 'named' into one on their first Pilgrimage, which enables them to confirm their end of school exams on their third Pilgrimage, gain the right to vote or lobby in the Senate upon attending their fourth, and the right to stand in the Council is granted in the sixth. The Pilgrimage is also an occasion for immigrants to become naturalized citizens. Exceptions can be made for those unable to make the journey, as well as critical workers on outlying colonies.