India-China ties improve, Kailash Manasarovar Yatra resumes after six-year hiatus. 750 pilgrims chosen from 5,000 applicants, despite rising temperatures.

Damini Pandya’s Spiritual Journey to Tibet

• Damini Pandya, a retired government officer, took a vow of silence for eight days before reaching Manasarovar Lake in Tibet.

• She crossed into India at the Nathu La Pass eight days after her vow, claiming it helped her understand the spiritual significance of the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra.

• Pandya and over 30 other yatris spent a week trekking the 52-km circumference of Mount Kailash, known as the parikrama or the kora.

• The yatra was suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdown, Indian Army clashes, and other standoffs.

• After talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Delhi and Beijing began discussions on normalizing relations.

Resumption of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in Tibet

• The resumption of the yatra in February 2025 presented challenges for officials, including building facilities along the way.

• The yatra has been a mainstay for local workers in Tibet, with many Indian pilgrims from the U.S. and the U.K.

• The number of pilgrims allowed to join the yatra has fluctuated annually since the route was reopened in 1981.

Mount Kailash: A Melange of Faiths and Challenges

• Mount Kailash is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati in Hindu scriptures.

• The Chinese government banned attempts to climb Mount Kailash in 2001 due to religious sensitivities of different faiths.

• Other religions also worship Mount Kailash, including Buddhism, Jains, Bon tradition, and nature-worshippers.

• Despite security concerns, the Indian Ministry of Culture submitted an application to UNESCO for ‘Sacred Mountain Landscape and Heritage Routes’ to protect the ecosystem around the holy sites.