What happened?
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will resume on June 30 after a five-year gap. The pilgrimage, which was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will pass through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district. The decision to resume the yatra was made at a meeting in New Delhi under the Uttarakhand government and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, with the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam responsible for conducting the pilgrimage. The yatra will commence from Delhi on June 30, with five groups of 50 people each (250 devotees total) participating. The first group will enter China via Lipulekh Pass on July 10, and the last group will depart from China for India on August 22. Each team will travel for 22 days, with health check-ups for pilgrims in Delhi and Gunji.
Why it matters to India
The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is significant as it holds great religious importance for Hindus. Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, located in Tibet under Chinese control, are believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, and the pilgrimage is considered to lead to salvation. The successful coordination between the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Uttarakhand government to organise and conduct the yatra highlights India’s diplomatic and administrative capabilities.
