March 20, 2014
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| Image credit: Prajna L S |
Kailash–Manas
Sarovar Yatra is one of the toughest
spiritual yatras of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions. The author
of this write up has been one of those fortunate pilgrims to
accomplish the three day Kailash Parikrama
successfully. So, in this series of articles, she would be sharing
her experience. She would make an attempt to perceive the
significance of this particular yatra.
The
present series would introduce the destination by providing useful
information and tips concerning the yatra. This series of articles is
based on the Kailash Yatra 2013.
I begin
by introducing the concept called ‘Yatra’
itself. It can roughly be translated as ‘pilgrimage’, but, a
‘Yatra’ for an Indian has wider implications. It is not just
visiting the holy places and sites.
In fact,
in Indian way of living a particular term called ‘Yatra’ is used
for making a journey. Yatra means journey and it also means a
particular kind of procession or gathering at some specific places at
some specific time. Roughly, you could term it as ‘pilgrimage’
but no rituals are mandatory in Indian pilgrimages. Yatra is a
ritual. A metaphor. A spiritual journey.
A
yatra can be done by visiting ancient holy cities, birth places of
deities, temples, rivers, lakes and mountains. These kinds of Yatras
are usually known as ‘Teertha Yatras’ that means the journey to
holy locations. It is a kind of ritual to be performed.
Hindus
perform rituals at river banks for their ancestors. However, India
consists of various other traditions also. So, ‘Yatras’ are done
by devotees following other than Hindu traditions. Char Dham Yatra,
Kailas Manas Sarovar Yatra, Amarnath Yatra, Shaktipeeth Yatra,
Jyotirling Yatra, Kashi-Rameshwar Yatra…India consists of
innumerable ‘Yatra’ locations.
Sometimes
at river confluences rituals would be held, and devotes throng at the
confluences in huge numbers. This kind of gathering at river banks is
called ‘Mela’ and a journey to participate in such Melas is also
a part of Yatra tradition. Kumbha Mela and Maha Kumbha Melas are two
well known ‘Melas’ in India conducted at river banks.
Most
of you must have heard of the Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Puri, Orissa.
This unique kind of Yatra is held every year by celebrating a
ritualistic journey of the deity. This is a celebration by pulling
the Temple Chariot on which the deity will be placed. These
ritualistic Yatras will be held in many other places of India.
Kailash-Manas
Sarovar Yatra is considered the ultimate among all yatras in India.
One needs to be fit both mentally and physically to ‘perform’
this yatra. I have deliberately used the word ‘perform’ since I
see this yatra as a kind of ‘ritual’ to be performed.
It
was by chance I joined the yatra. Usually the Ministry of External
Affairs conducts this tour every year. But, this year due to the
havoc created by Monsoon rains in the Uttarakhand region the
Government had cancelled the yatra. However, we went by a private
tourist agency named Nirmala Travels. This travel agency located in
Bangalore has tied up with a Nepali travel agency named Shrestha
Travels.
In
the next post you would know about the route
map of Kailash Yatra
and about the things
to carry for Kailash Manas Sarovar Yatra!
[To be continued…]
Nice, really excited to read more.