New Delhi, July 5 -- Flagging off the first batch of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the Lipulekh Pass from Tanakpur in Champawat on Sunday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the pilgrimage is a symbol of spiritual consciousness and national harmony.

Amidst chants of "Har-Har Mahadev", welcoming them by presenting Rudraksh rosaries and patkas (ceremonial scarves) dedicated to Lord Shiva, Dhami interacted with the pilgrims and wished them a safe and auspicious journey, officials said.

According to the officials, the first batch of 49 pilgrims, including a doctor, comprising 34 men and 15 women, had arrived in Tanakpur from Delhi on Saturday evening.

The annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra taking place via two routes -- Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim -- holds religious significance to Hindus as well as Jains and Buddhists.

The pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in China's Tibet Autonomous Region resumed last year after a gap of nearly

five years as part of efforts to normalise the relations between India and China.

Dhami remarked that it is only through the grace of Lord Bholenath that pilgrims get the opportunity to undertake this sacred journey.

Urging the pilgrims to strengthen the local economy by purchasing local handicrafts and products, Dhami noted that it connects people across the country with the rich culture, traditions, and local way of life of the border villages.

Earlier, upon their arrival in Tanakpur, the pilgrims were welcomed with the

traditional Chholiya dance, a shower of flower petals, and garlands.

Manoj Kumar, Manager of the Sharda Tourist Rest House in Tanakpur, said that the first group consists of 49 pilgrims, including a doctor, comprising 34 men and 15 women. He mentioned that the group includes pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Purushottam Khandelwal, a 68-year-old pilgrim from Rajasthan, is the oldest member of the group, while 21-year-old Harikrishna from Gujarat is the youngest.

The group of pilgrims will travel from Tanakpur and arrive at the base camp in Dharchula, Pithoragarh district, on Sunday evening and after an overnight stay, they will depart for the next halt, Gunji, on Monday morning.

The Yatra is being conducted via the Tanakpur route for the second consecutive year. This route is more accessible than the previous one.

Previously, pilgrims would travel from Delhi to Haldwani and then reach Dharchula via Almora and Pithoragarh.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.