The Sanctuary of Chalma is one of the most-visited pilgrimage site in Mexico, only second behind the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
 In fact, since the Christ image appeared ten years after the Virgin of Guadalupe, some consider her to be the “mother” of this particular Christ figure.
According to the Secretary of Tourism for Mexico State, more than two million people a year visit Chalma.
Most visitors come from the Mexican states of Querétaro, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Guerrero and the Huasteca region in San Luis Potosí and Veracruz; however, it also has received pilgrims from all over the world.

Most pilgrimages to Chalma are communal in nature with different towns and villages in central Mexico having traditional days to visit the site.
Most of these pilgrimages are for the blessing of the local patron saint or to commemorate the change of “mayordomo,” a kind of lay religious leader in charge of a community’s religious traditions.

From near or far, most communal pilgrimages are well-organized, such as the “Procession of Silence” that originates in Toluca.
These pilgrimages can be planned a month in advance, with the mayordomo leading the organizational effort.
Some parishes have tee shirts and special clothing produced for the pilgrimage, and others arrange to have colorfully decorated trucks to follow walking pilgrims for support functions.
Before departure, all meet at a certain point in their hometowns.
In the past, the pilgrimage from more local areas was done entirely by foot.
Sometimes it is still done this way, but more often the trek is combined with motorized transport.
Some others still have turned to bicycles as a means of transporting themselves to the site.

Whether they use other means to get to the Chalma area, modern pilgrims still follow the same narrow steep paths to the site that their ancestors used to get to the cave of Oxtoteotl and wearing flowers as they did.
If the walk is done at night, pilgrims carry torches and candles.
 Before the 1970s the trip from the main highway to the village of Chalma could take eight hours or more by foot.
Although there is now a paved road to the village, it is very winding through the rugged terrain.
On the way, there are lodgings, some in private homes, for traveling pilgrims.

Once arrived at the sanctuary, most pilgrims follow a number of traditional activities.
One of the main purposes is to dance in the sanctuary complex.
Traditional dances from all over Mexico are performed at this sanctuary, with some pilgrims dressed in the traditional clothing of their region.
This dancing in honor of the Christ of Chalma is believed to cleanse sins.
 This ritual is so famous that in Mexico, there is a saying that when one asks for something impossible, they cannot perform the deed “without going to dance at Chalma.”

For many pilgrims, it is also important to visit a large, centuries-old  Mexican cypress tree, next to which is a spring that emerges from the earth here.
These are the same waters that pagan ancestors bathed in before the arrival of Christianity.
For first-time pilgrims this visit is essential.
 The waters of the spring are claimed to have miraculous properties according to popular belief.
First-time pilgrims must circle the tree three times.
 Many pilgrims ritually bathe themselves in these waters, and once clean, they are crowned with flowers to be ready to enter the sanctuary.
 Some people believe that not doing the ritual of the tree and spring will turn one into stone.

On the tree, some pilgrims hang a small bag with newborn baby’s umbilical cord to give thanks for the birth and others hang notes and other items reflecting their petitions and prayers.
Some women will place their hands in a hole in the tree where water comes out and place the water on their bodies for fertility.

Inside the sanctuary itself, first-timers will have a sponsor (called a “padrino”) who presents the pilgrim to the image.
Those who come bearing sacred images from their hometowns place them near the main altar of the church where mayordomos, or lay religious leaders will guard them
The Sanctuary of Chalma is one of the most-visited pilgrimage site in Mexico, only second behind the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  In fact, since the Christ image appeared ten years after the Virgin of Guadalupe, some consider her to be the “mother” of this particular Christ figure. According to the Secretary of Tourism for Mexico State, more than two million people a year visit Chalma. Most visitors come from the Mexican states of Querétaro, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Guerrero and the Huasteca region in San Luis Potosí and Veracruz; however, it also has received pilgrims from all over the world.
Most pilgrimages to Chalma are communal in nature with different towns and villages in central Mexico having traditional days to visit the site. Most of these pilgrimages are for the blessing of the local patron saint or to commemorate the change of “mayordomo,” a kind of lay religious leader in charge of a community’s religious traditions.
From near or far, most communal pilgrimages are well-organized, such as the “Procession of Silence” that originates in Toluca. These pilgrimages can be planned a month in advance, with the mayordomo leading the organizational effort. Some parishes have tee shirts and special clothing produced for the pilgrimage, and others arrange to have colorfully decorated trucks to follow walking pilgrims for support functions. Before departure, all meet at a certain point in their hometowns. In the past, the pilgrimage from more local areas was done entirely by foot. Sometimes it is still done this way, but more often the trek is combined with motorized transport. Some others still have turned to bicycles as a means of transporting themselves to the site.
Whether they use other means to get to the Chalma area, modern pilgrims still follow the same narrow steep paths to the site that their ancestors used to get to the cave of Oxtoteotl and wearing flowers as they did. If the walk is done at night, pilgrims carry torches and candles.  Before the 1970s the trip from the main highway to the village of Chalma could take eight hours or more by foot. Although there is now a paved road to the village, it is very winding through the rugged terrain. On the way, there are lodgings, some in private homes, for traveling pilgrims.
Once arrived at the sanctuary, most pilgrims follow a number of traditional activities. One of the main purposes is to dance in the sanctuary complex. Traditional dances from all over Mexico are performed at this sanctuary, with some pilgrims dressed in the traditional clothing of their region. This dancing in honor of the Christ of Chalma is believed to cleanse sins.  This ritual is so famous that in Mexico, there is a saying that when one asks for something impossible, they cannot perform the deed “without going to dance at Chalma.”
For many pilgrims, it is also important to visit a large, centuries-old  Mexican cypress tree, next to which is a spring that emerges from the earth here. These are the same waters that pagan ancestors bathed in before the arrival of Christianity. For first-time pilgrims this visit is essential.  The waters of the spring are claimed to have miraculous properties according to popular belief. First-time pilgrims must circle the tree three times.  Many pilgrims ritually bathe themselves in these waters, and once clean, they are crowned with flowers to be ready to enter the sanctuary.  Some people believe that not doing the ritual of the tree and spring will turn one into stone.
On the tree, some pilgrims hang a small bag with newborn baby’s umbilical cord to give thanks for the birth and others hang notes and other items reflecting their petitions and prayers. Some women will place their hands in a hole in the tree where water comes out and place the water on their bodies for fertility.
Inside the sanctuary itself, first-timers will have a sponsor (called a “padrino”) who presents the pilgrim to the image. Those who come bearing sacred images from their hometowns place them near the main altar of the church where mayordomos, or lay religious leaders will guard them 
Chalma, Malinalco