New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) The annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is set to take place from June to August this year via two routes — Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday.
The pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region holds religious significance to Hindus as well as Jains and Buddhists.
The yatra resumed last year after a gap of nearly five years as part of efforts to normalise the relations between India and China.
It was suspended initially in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic and subsequently because of the military standoff between the two sides on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
“Kailash Mansarovar Yatra organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in coordination with the Government of the People’s Republic of China is set to take place during June to August,” the MEA said in a statement.
“This year, 10 batches, each consisting of 50 Yatris, are scheduled to travel through Uttarakhand state crossing over at Lipulekh Pass and another 10 batches, each consisting of 50 Yatris, through Sikkim state crossing over at Nathu La Pass,” it said.
The MEA said a website (kmy.gov.in) has been opened for accepting applications for the pilgrimage.
The pilgrims will be selected from among applicants through a “computer-generated, random and gender-balanced selection process”, it said.
The entire process for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra commencing from online application till selection of pilgrims is a fully computerised process, it added.
The MEA said interested applicants may register on the website and submit their applications online.
It said applicants can either select both routes indicating priority or select only one route. The last date for registration is May 19. PTI MPB KVK KVK
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