36 Indians Begin Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra After 6 Years

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra successfully operated independently after a gap of six years, where 36 Indian pilgrims landed at the holy places of Kailash Mountain and lake of Mansarovar in China. This yatra is symbolic of restoration of the first people to people mechanism between India and China post COVID 19 pandemic and the LAC stand-off. This pilgrimage whose participants have Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Tibetan Bon worshippers brings out an important cross-Himalayan cultural exchange between the two countries. The yatra which will span to July 2 is viewed as a good initiative in the India-China relations as there has been an amelioration in infrastructure and collaboration between the two governments.

Context

• The Indian religious people have accomplished the mission of reaching Mount Kailash and the Mansarovar Lake lake with the reawakening of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra that had taken a break of six years. 

• It is also another massive cultural exchange between India and China and it is expected to enhance bilateral relationship even further as this yatra was made possible through this country and China.

Key Points

Revival after a duration of six years

• It was the beginning of the yatra by 36 Indian pilgrims after a gap of 6 years (last year conducted pre-COVID and pre-LAC stand-off)

• Becomes the initial people-to-people interaction between China and India after philanthropy during pandemic times and military conflicts

Route and Distance

• Yatra routes:

• Nathu La Pass (Sikkim)

• Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand)

• Occupies an area of more than 3,000 km with high altitude terrain

The cultural and religious Significance

• Mount Kailash: This is considered as the home of Lord Shiva

• Mansarovar Lake: A holy lake of the Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon tradition

• Mount Kailash is a place that pilgrims carry out kora (ritual circumambulation) around

India-China Cooperation

• The MEA of India and Chinese officials organized it.

• Facilities provided:

• Indian-style meals

• Support medical & oxygen

• Biometric identity checks and interpreters of different languages

• A Chinese official Wen Tao termed it as a symbol of bilateral consensus.

Strategic & diplomatic Implications

• It was regarded as a confidence-building effort that follows tensions in the LAC

• May signify the way to:

• Restart of visa, tourism, direct flights

• Wider cultural and financial interactions between China and India

About Kailash yatra

Physical Features

• Location: Tibet Autonomous Region, China

• Height: 6638 meters

• Composition: black rock peak, diamond shaped

• It is where lake Mansarovar is located

• Origin of four great rivers:

• Sutlej, Brahmaputra, Karnali and Indus

Religious and Cultural implications

• Hinduism: The place of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati

• Buddhism: Mount Meru the axis between heaven and earth was identified as such

• Jainism: This is where Rishabhanatha was enlightened and came to be known as Ashtapada.

• Tibet: sacred spiritual focus of Tibet

Pilgrimage and Yatra (KMY)

• Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY):

• The India host-hosted tests annually (JuneSept)

• Two routes:

  • Lipulekh Pass, Uttarakhand (after 1981)

  • Nathu la, Sikkim (since 2015)

Spiritual True Belief and Conservation

• Although Mount Kailash is short in comparison to Mount Everest it has never been climbed

• It is also not allowed to climb as it is sacred

Conclusion

Revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also an indicator that India and China are warming in their relationship and that cultural and spiritual vitality are being renewed between state and state. This collaboration between the two governments to enable the process of pilgrimage denotes the possibilities of enhancing the relationship among each other using people to people channeling. With the passage of this yatra it does not only bear the religious significance but also the hope that India and China can work together in many areas.