तीर्थ-यात्रा (tiirth-yaatraa)

noun A compound noun combining तीर्थ (tiirth, sacred place/pilgrimage site) with यात्रा (yaatraa, journey) -- together meaning 'pilgrimage.' Single sense, high cultural relevance.
Sense 1 : pilgrimage (journey to a sacred/holy place)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: तीर्थयात्रा (tiirthyaatraa, unhyphenated variant), यात्रा (yaatraa, broader meaning: any journey)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Think of the great chaardhaam (chaardhaam) circuit, or trips to Vaishno Devi (vaishno devii) and Haridwar (haridvaar) -- for many North Indian families, especially the older generation, a तीर्थ-यात्रा (tiirth-yaatraa) is both a spiritual duty and a cherished family trip, often planned around retirement or after a milestone like a child's wedding. It carries a warmth similar to 'going on hajj' or 'a trip to Jerusalem' in other traditions -- the destination matters as much as the devotion behind it.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use यात्रा (yaatraa) alone when they mean a religious pilgrimage specifically -- यात्रा (yaatraa) just means 'trip/journey' in general, so तीर्थ-यात्रा (tiirth-yaatraa) is needed to convey the sacred purpose. 2) The verb commonly paired with this noun is करना (karnaa) or पर जाना (par jaanaa) -- e.g. तीर्थ-यात्रा पर जाना (tiirth-yaatraa par jaanaa, 'to go on a pilgrimage') -- not a dedicated verb of its own.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे दादा जी हर साल किसी न किसी तीर्थ-यात्रा पर जाते हैं। My grandfather goes on some pilgrimage or the other every year.
(mere daadaa jii har saal kisii n kisii tiirth-yaatraa par jaate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिछले महीने हम पूरे परिवार के साथ हरिद्वार की तीर्थ-यात्रा पर गए थे। Last month we went on a pilgrimage to Haridwar with the whole family.
(pichhle mahiine ham poore parivaar ke saath haridvaar kii tiirth-yaatraa par gae the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बेटी की शादी के बाद वे चारधाम की तीर्थ-यात्रा की योजना बना रहे हैं। After their daughter's wedding, they are planning a pilgrimage to the Chaar Dhaam.
(betii kii shaadii ke baad ve chaardhaam kii tiirth-yaatraa kii yojnaa banaa rahe hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
रिटायरमेंट के बाद हम वैष्णो देवी की तीर्थ-यात्रा करेंगे। After retirement, we will go on a pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi.
(ritaayarment ke baad ham vaishno devii kii tiirth-yaatraa karenge।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश हम भी इस साल किसी तीर्थ-यात्रा पर जा पाते। If only we too could go on some pilgrimage this year.
(kaash ham bhii is saal kisii tiirth-yaatraa par jaa paate।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर पैसे बचते तो हम पूरे परिवार के साथ तीर्थ-यात्रा पर जाते। If we had saved money, we would have gone on a pilgrimage with the whole family.
(agar paise bachte to ham poore parivaar ke saath tiirth-yaatraa par jaate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
बुजुर्गों का आशीर्वाद लेने के लिए एक बार तीर्थ-यात्रा ज़रूर करनी चाहिए। To seek the elders' blessings, one should definitely go on a pilgrimage at least once.
(bujurgon kaa aashiirvaad lene ke lie ek baar tiirth-yaatraa zaroor karnii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हर साल हज़ारों श्रद्धालुओं द्वारा यह तीर्थ-यात्रा पैदल पूरी की जाती है। Every year this pilgrimage is completed on foot by thousands of devotees.
(har saal hazaaron shraddhaaluon dvaaraa yah tiirth-yaatraa paidal poorii kii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
तीर्थ-यात्रा से लौटकर उन्होंने सबको प्रसाद बांटा। Returning from the pilgrimage, he distributed prasad to everyone.
(tiirth-yaatraa se lautkar unhonne sabko prasaad baantaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
जीवन में एक बार तीर्थ-यात्रा अवश्य करो, यह आत्मा को शांति देती है। Go on a pilgrimage at least once in your life; it gives peace to the soul.
(jiivan men ek baar tiirth-yaatraa avashy karo, yah aatmaa ko shaanti detii hai।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
तीर्थ-यात्रा केवल मंदिर जाना नहीं है, यह मन की एक यात्रा भी है। A pilgrimage is not merely going to a temple; it is also a journey of the mind.
(tiirth-yaatraa keval mandir jaanaa nahiin hai, yah man kii ek yaatraa bhii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): तीर्थ-यात्रा ([[तीर्थ-यात्रा]])
(sg.f.oblique): तीर्थ-यात्रा ([[तीर्थ-यात्रा]])
(pl.f.direct): तीर्थ-यात्राएँ ([[तीर्थ-यात्राएँ]])
(pl.f.oblique): तीर्थ-यात्राओं ([[तीर्थ-यात्राओं]])