Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: UP CM Adityanath doubles financial grant
What's the story
Newly-elected Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, during his first speech since assuming the post, announced the doubling of the financial grant given to Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims.
Pilgrims from UP who want to embark on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will now receive a financial grant of Rs.1 lakh.
He added the state government would construct Mansarovar Bhawan for pilgrims either in Delhi or UP soon.
Introduction
Kailash Manasarovar and its significance
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra (KMY) is well-known for its religious and cultural significance; Kailash Mansarovar is in Tibet, China.
Hundreds of pilgrims undertake the yatra every year.
There are two routes for the yatra: Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathula Pass (Sikkim).
It holds significance for the Hindus as the "Abode of Lord Shiva"; it also holds religious importance for the Buddhists and the Jains.
2017
Yatra to be conducted from 12 Jun-8 Sept
The 2017 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra season will begin in a couple of months.
Along with many private agencies, the Ministry of External Affairs also makes arrangements for the yatra.
This year, the trip will be conducted from 12 June to 8 September, through both the routes.
The registration deadline for this year has been extended to 26 March from 15 March.
Routes
Nathula Pass route is motorable
Lipulekh Pass route involves some trekking; its estimated cost is Rs. 1.6lakh per person.
It would be conducted in 18 batches of 60 pilgrims each for 24 days.
Nathula Pass route is motorable and suitable for those unable to undertake trekking; its estimated cost is Rs. 2lakh.
Its duration would be 21 days; 8 batches of 50 pilgrims each will embark on this route.
Important Sites
Pilgrims can enjoy Om Parvat's beauty on Lipulekh Pass route
Lipulekh Pass route passes through Narayan Ashram, Patal Bhuvaneshwar, Chialekh Valley, and 'Om Parvat', which has the shape of 'Om' on it due to the natural occurrence of snow.
Nathula Pass route from Gangtok passes through Hangu lake and the Tibetian plateau's vast landscape.
Pilgrims can select one of the routes or both, indicating priority; routes and batches are allotted through a computerized procedure.
Information
A fair computer-generated selection process
First-time applicants, married couples, and doctors are given priority during selection; senior citizens would have priority in the Nathula route. Four persons can apply and undertake the trip together (subject to conditions). Applicants are selected through a fair, random, gender-based, computer-generated process.
Financial Grant
Doubling the grant would encourage pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar: Adityanath
Yogi Adityanath, presiding over a meeting in the CM secretariat, stated the 100% hike in the financial grant would encourage pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar.
The previous Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government also had doubled the subsidy given to Mansarovar pilgrims to Rs. 50,000 from Rs. 25,000.
The subsidy is given to those who produce a domicile-certificate or passport, certifying that they belong to UP.
Information
Subsidy programme for pilgrims
The average cost of Kailash Yatra for a person is estimated to be Rs. 2-2.5 lakh. As most of pilgrims aren't able to afford the yatra, the UP government has launched a subsidy programme for pilgrims from the state who are selected by the Centre.