India, June 14 -- The Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, on Thursday presided over the flagging-off ceremony of the inaugural batch of pilgrims for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan.

The first group of selected yatris will travel via the Nathu La route and is scheduled to commence its onward journey from Delhi on June 15, 2026. This marks the official beginning of the annual pilgrimage to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, a journey of immense spiritual significance for devotees of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon traditions.

Addressing the pilgrims, Margherita congratulated the yatris on their selection and wished them a safe and spiritually fulfilling jo...