Will Kailash Manasarovar Yatra start again? There was closure due to Covid, now India-China meeting in G20 raised hopes

New Delhi: Foreign ministers of India and China met during the G-20 summit in Brazil. During the meeting he/she also talked about starting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. This Yatra was last held in 2019 and since then Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is closed.Why is it important?
Kailash Mansarovar is in Tibet and is considered a major religious place for Hindus. Traditionally the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has been taking place via Dharchula in Uttarakhand and crossing the Lipulekh Pass. But later the route to reach Kailash Mansarovar by crossing Nathula Pass from Sikkim was opened. The last time this journey took place was in the year 2019. After that it stopped due to Covid. Even before Covid ended, a standoff between India and China started on the LAC in Eastern Ladakh and relations between India and China deteriorated. In such a situation, there was no question of travel again.

Along with travel, livelihood also comes.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not only associated with religious faith but it was also a source of livelihood for the people living in the India-China border area. Dharchula Town and seven villages of Vyas Valley lie on the way to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Lipulekh Pass. During the journey, the people here used to earn their entire year’s income. But due to the closure of travel, the crisis of their livelihood increased. Now the people here hope that the old good days will return.

travel and business
India and China trade also took place from June to October during the period in which Kailash Mansarovar Yatra took place. Sudha Bohra, who lives in Darma Valley of the border area, says that we used to go to Taklakot market in Tibet and do business. The local administration issues passes for this trade. People of 14 villages of Darma valley, 7 villages of Vyas valley, 14 villages of Chaudas and 12 villages of Johar valley were dependent on this trade. Indian traders used to sell beauty products, sugar candy, tobacco etc. in Taklakot Mandi and bought wool, blankets, yak tails, jackets, shoes etc. from there. Which is sold at good prices in the Indian market.

Every year trade worth about Rs 20 crore was done through this route alone. There were more imports from China and less exports. She says that when the last trade took place in 2019, goods worth about Rs 5 crore of Indian traders remained in the store in the Tibetan market. She says that traders are continuously raising this issue. he/she said that now there is hope that if the journey starts then the trade will also start.