Record pilgrims to ‘Adi Kailash’ and ‘Om Parvat’ yatra
Record pilgrims to ‘Adi Kailash’ and ‘Om Parvat’ yatra
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, June 9
The record of pilgrims to ‘Adi Kailash’ and ‘Om Parvat’ yatra has been broken on June 8th with issuance of 1194 inner line permits on that day as large number of pilgrims are reaching Pithoragarh from across the country on daily basis, according to Pithoragarh District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai.
“While a total of 36526 inner line permits were issued to ‘Adi Kailash’ pilgrims in the four month yarsa sesson last year, the record has been broken on June 8th this year with issuing of 1194 permits that made total number of permits this year to 36776 breaking the last year’s total record in 39 days of yatra this year,” said the DM. The ‘Adi Kailash’ yatra began this year from May 1.
According to administration sources, the yatra runs for over 6 months from May to November every year barring two months of July and August. “Keeping the enthusiasm of pilgrims from across the country for this yatra this year, we are expecting the pilgrim number to cross more than a lakh, “said Dhan Singh Bisht, incharge of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) base camp of yatra at Dharchula.
“The footfall of pilgrims could change after June 15, after start of rains and opening of schools as summer holidays comes to an end,” said the base camp incharge.
“The pilgrims flow to ‘Adi Kailash’ is result of expansion of better quality home stay facilities, making it secure and easy for the pilgrims reaching here from all parts of country,” Pithoragarh DM claimed.
The District Magistrate said that the high footfall in yatra is strengthening local economy by providing livelihood to people through transport services, home stays, self- employment and sale of local handicrafts. “The border villages on way to this yatra, have become able to strengthen their economy enabling locals to remain in their ancestral villages round the year, that will strengthen second defence line at this tri- border of the country of Indo- China and Indo- Nepal,” said Ashish Bhatgai.
