First batch of pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar yatra reaches Almora
Courtesy Times Of India –
The first batch of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims reached Almora on Sunday. The pilgrims will leave on Monday morning for Dharchula. Chief minister Harish Rawat is expected to flag off the yatra from there on Tuesday morning.
The first batch will then reach Kailash Mansarovar on June 23.
The yatra was flagged off by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in Delhi. The first 60 pilgrims were welcomed in Almora with Kumaoni cultural programmes and traditional pahadi food. T S Martoliya, general manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, the nodal authority which organizes the event, told TOI, “All arrangements and preparations were made to welcome the pilgrims in Kumaon. Kumaoni delicacies were served to the guests.” Around 1,430 pilgrims in 25 batches are expected to undertake the pilgrimage to Tibet in China this season. Eighteen batches of 60 pilgrims will take the Lipulekh Pass route while seven batches comprising 50 pilgrims will take the Nathu La route. The former is known to be more arduous. The yatra will continue for the next four months. For this year’s yatra, more than 2,260 pilgrims had made an application and were shortlisted through a computerized process.
The yatra was flagged off by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in Delhi. The first 60 pilgrims were welcomed in Almora with Kumaoni cultural programmes and traditional pahadi food. T S Martoliya, general manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, the nodal authority which organizes the event, told TOI, “All arrangements and preparations were made to welcome the pilgrims in Kumaon. Kumaoni delicacies were served to the guests.” Around 1,430 pilgrims in 25 batches are expected to undertake the pilgrimage to Tibet in China this season. Eighteen batches of 60 pilgrims will take the Lipulekh Pass route while seven batches comprising 50 pilgrims will take the Nathu La route. The former is known to be more arduous. The yatra will continue for the next four months. For this year’s yatra, more than 2,260 pilgrims had made an application and were shortlisted through a computerized process.
