Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Resumes After Five-Year Hiatus

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Kicks Off

After a five-year break, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is set to commence once again. On Sunday, the state's Minister for Tourism and Culture, Jaiveer Singh, will flag off the first group of pilgrims from the Kailash Mansarovar Bhawan in Indirapuram. The last pilgrimage took place in 2019, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions between India and China in 2020. In October of the previous year, both nations agreed to withdraw from key points along the pilgrimage route in Eastern Ladakh, specifically at Depsang and Demchok.

First Group of Pilgrims Depart

The inaugural group of devotees for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra departed on Friday following a ceremony. The Ministry of External Affairs announced that Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, presided over the event held at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan. In her address, she expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for their cooperation in resuming the pilgrimage and acknowledged the contributions of various central ministries and departments.

Details of the Yatra

The government organizes the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra annually between June and September, utilizing two official routes: the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand (since 1981) and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim (since 2015).

Significance of Kailash Mansarovar

Located in the far western Himalayas of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, Mount Kailash rises to 6,638 meters and is revered in Hinduism as Kailas, while in Tibetan it is known as Gang Rinpoche. The nearby Lake Mansarovar, referred to as Manasarovar in Hindi and Mapam Yumtso in Tibetan, is considered a source of divine energy and mental tranquility. Both Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar are sacred sites for Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Bon. Each year, from April to October, a significant number of devotees and adventure seekers embark on the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.