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The Hindu
17 hours ago
- The Hindu
First batch of pilgrims visit Mansarovar, appeal for more yatra slots to be opened
As the first batch of Indian pilgrims since 2020 visited the Mansarovar Lake, preparing to begin their return journey on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, they expressed the hope that India and China could agree to allow more yatris to make the trek in future years. Mount Kailash and the Mansarovar Lake lie in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This first batch of pilgrims left Delhi on June 15 and arrived this week at Darchen to begin the Parikrama or circular route around Mount Kailash. They will head back on Saturday (June 28, 2025), and cross over into India on July 1, completing a route by road of about 2,000 km, trekking an uphill and rugged terrain of about 52 km on foot. As they touched the pristine blue waters of Mansarovar Lake, the world's highest freshwater lake at 4,588 metres, they burst into meditational chants. The pilgrimage marks the first resumption of a people-to-people mechanism between India and China after the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control began in 2020. 'Widen the experience' 'This yatra happens for only three months, and this year, only 750 people were allowed to come for it. As a yatri, and given the experience that we have got here, we would want that both the governments should allow more and more people so they can get to experience this as well,' said Vineet Gupta, a 43-year-old software professional from Mumbai. Mr. Gupta, one of the 36 pilgrims who completed the arduous trek around Mount Kailash on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) and the Parikrama around Mansarovar Lake on Friday (June 27, 2025), said he felt blessed and energised rather than fatigued. 'In all our scriptures, it is said that the gods come to bathe here every day. So when we take the waters, we believe our sins are absolved and that we achieve salvation,' he said, when asked about the significance of the Mansarovar Lake's water. Rising tourist nunbers According to the Ministry of External Affairs' response to a query in Parliament, the number of pilgrims allowed to join the yatra each year — which is negotiated between the Foreign Ministries of India and China — has fluctuated every year since the route was first reopened in 1981. In 2015, the Nathu La Pass route via Sikkim was also added to the existing route through Lipulekh pass via Uttarakhand, and 999 pilgrims made the pilgrimage. By 2019, the number had increased to 1,364. With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the yatra, however, and tensions on the LAC since 2020 casting a shadow, this year's cohort is far smaller. The yatris noted that many whose names were picked by a computerised lottery from about 5,000 applicants did not pass the medical tests. Thus, while each batch is meant to include 50 pilgrims, the first batch only had 36. In recent years, the Chinese government has also restricted visitors to the lake from bathing in the lake, citing 'environmental protection purposes', a Chinese embassy official in Delhi said. 'Educate pilgrims' Retired manager Devi Prasad Ketkar, 61, who has travelled here from Mumbai along with his wife, said that the yatra had been 'beyond his dreams', as he had been disheartened by its suspension for the past six years. Asked whether more pilgrims being allowed to join the yatra could affect the holy sites, Mr. Ketkar said that it was more important to educate visitors than cut their numbers. 'I think restricting the number of pilgrims should not matter as much as the need to educate them about eco-friendly travel and how we must behave towards the environment. That education is much more important for all than restricting travel,' Mr. Ketkar said, in response a question from The Hindu. The first batch of pilgrims includes men and women between the ages of 20 to 69, all of whom have been able to complete the journey thus far without any medical issues, especially given the altitude, the group said. The oldest among them is 69 year old Pradnya Devi. The silver-haired lady beamed with joy as she prayed to Mount Kailash clearly visible from the banks of Mansarovar, and sprinkled water from the lake over her head, as is the custom. Ms. Devi has taken a vow of silence for the term of the yatra and responded to questions only with head shakes. When asked if she would like to stay longer, however, she nodded vigorously and smiled broadly .
News18
17-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Batch Of Nearly 100 Indians Evacuated From Iran Amid Conflict, Reach Armenia Border: Reports
Last Updated: India has begun evacuating its citizens from Iran amid rising tensions with Israel, with nearly 100 Indians reported to have reached the Armenia border. Amid the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Indian has begun the evacuation of its citizens from Iran, it was learnt on Monday. According to multiple media reports, a first batch of nearly 100 Indians has been evacuated and is reported to have reached the Armenia border. On Monday, the Centre said the Indian Embassy in Tehran was continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety while also relocating them to safer places in some cases. The Ministry of External Affairs' statement read, 'The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety." The statement continued, 'In some cases, students are being relocated with the Embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran. Other feasible options are also under examination. Further updates will follow." 'Separately, the Embassy is in touch with community leaders regarding welfare and safety," it added. On Sunday, Indians in Iran were asked not to panic, exercise due caution and maintain contact with the Embassy of India in Tehran through its social media accounts in view of the current situation in the country following the launch of strikes by Israel. In an advisory, the Indian Embassy asked all Indian nationals and Persons of Indian Origin to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements, follow the embassy's social media accounts and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. The warning came on the fourth day of the conflict, when the Israeli military claimed it had achieved air superiority above the Iranian capital and could fly over the city without facing major threats. The military has issued similar evacuation warnings for civilians in parts of Gaza and Lebanon ahead of strikes. The warning affected up to 330,000 people in a part of central Tehran that includes the country's state TV and police headquarters, as well as three large hospitals, including one owned by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Israeli military officials also said fighter jets had struck 10 command centres in Tehran belonging to Iran's Quds Force, an elite arm of its Revolutionary Guard that conducts military and intelligence operations outside Iran. So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 injured, Israeli officials said, after Iran launched more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones. The latest conflict began when Israel launched an assault on Iran's top military leaders, uranium enrichment sites and nuclear scientists that it said was necessary to prevent its longtime adversary from getting any closer to building an atomic weapon. First Published: June 17, 2025, 07:21 IST
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Business Standard
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
India in touch with students in Iran to ensure their safety, says MEA
Amid the Iran-Israel conflict, the Centre on Monday said the Indian Embassy in Tehran was continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety while also relocating them to safer places in some cases. The Ministry of External Affairs' statement read, 'The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety.' The statement continued, 'In some cases, students are being relocated with Embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran. Other feasible options are also under examination. Further updates will follow. Separately, the Embassy is in touch with community leaders regarding welfare and safety.' The Indian embassies in Israel and Iran have issued advisories on their X handles in view of the situation. 'In view of the current situation in Iran, all Indian nationals & persons of Indian origin in Iran are requested to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements, follow the Embassy's Social Media accounts & observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities,' the Indian Embassy in Iran's post on X read. Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday asked the MEA to take immediate steps to ensure the safe return of Indian students stranded in Iran. Hundreds of Kashmiri students, enrolled in various universities for professional courses in Iran, are stranded due to the escalated tensions with Israel. The families of the students have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps for their safe evacuation just like the government did at the time of the Russia-Ukraine War. 'If Indian students were evacuated from Ukraine within days during the war, why are our children not being rescued from Iran? They are also Indian citizens,' a worried parent said.
Deccan Herald
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Embassy continuously monitoring situation, engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure safety: MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs' statement read, 'The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety.'
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Embassy continuously monitoring situation, engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure safety: MEA
Amid the Iran-Israel conflict, the Centre on Monday (June 16, 2025) said the Indian Embassy in Tehran was continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety while also relocating them to safer places in some cases. The Ministry of External Affairs' statement read, "The Indian Embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety." The statement continued, "In some cases, students are being relocated with Embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran. Other feasible options are also under examination. Further updates will follow. Separately, the Embassy is in touch with community leaders regarding welfare and safety." The Indian embassies in Israel and Iran have issued advisories on their X handles in view of the situation. "ADVISORY In view of the current situation in Iran, all Indian nationals & persons of Indian origin in Iran are requested to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements, follow the Embassy's Social Media accounts & observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities," the Indian Embassy in Iran's post on X read.
