Devotees on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a revered site in the Himalayas, are among those missing following devastating floods along the Nepal-China border.
BEIJING — Mount Kailash, a sacred peak in the Himalayas, has become a focal point of concern as devotees on pilgrimage are reported missing after severe flooding along the border between Nepal and China.
Located in southwestern Tibet, Mount Kailash stands at over 6,400 meters (21,000 feet) above sea level, near Lake Manasarovar. Both the mountain and the lake have been integral to various religious and literary traditions for centuries.
The mountain holds deep spiritual significance for multiple faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the Tibetan Bon tradition. Each of these religions associates Mount Kailash with unique beliefs and sacred histories.
According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Hindus regard Mount Kailash as the abode of Shiva, the god of destruction, and Parvati, the goddess of marriage, fertility, and motherhood. For followers of the Bon tradition, the mountain is viewed as a seat of spiritual power, linked to Tonpa Shenrab, the founder of their faith.
Geographer Emily Yeh, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, noted in her 2017 research that Mount Kailash is often equated with the mythical Mount Meru, which is considered the center of the universe in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.
The surrounding landscape is rich with local legends and Himalayan traditions. One such story features Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, who visits villagers eager to undertake the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. He teaches them that the true pilgrimage is an inward spiritual journey.
Each year, the Indian government organizes an official Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage from June through August or September, with routes through the states of Uttarakhand and Sikkim. Private operators also facilitate pilgrimages through Nepal.
Traditionally, pilgrims walk around Mount Kailash instead of climbing it, completing a circuit of approximately 33 miles (53 kilometers). This journey is believed to cleanse them of their sins and typically takes about three days to complete. While Hindus and Buddhists circle the mountain clockwise, followers of Bon travel in the opposite direction.
At nearby Lake Manasarovar, many Hindu pilgrims partake in ritual bathing, viewing it as a means of spiritual purification.
Yeh’s research highlights that Tibetan pilgrims often stop at monasteries and other sacred sites along their route, engaging in rituals that involve touching prayer beads or their foreheads to features believed to hold sacred imprints. These rituals are thought to test a pilgrim’s merit, sin, or fortune.
Tragically, the recent floods have left many pilgrims missing. The death toll from the disaster has risen into the hundreds, with authorities in Nepal and China reporting over a thousand individuals unaccounted for.
Among the missing are at least 178 people from India, many of whom were believed to be on pilgrimage. The list of missing individuals also includes citizens from the United States, Australia, Britain, and Canada.
Indian spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev, known as Sadhguru, reported on social media that 77 people returning from Mount Kailash with groups organized by his Isha Foundation were at an immigration center in Gyirong, Tibet, when the floods struck.
The floods were triggered by a glacier collapse that sent debris rushing through communities on both sides of the border. Experts warn that similar flash floods are becoming more frequent as rising temperatures increasingly destabilize Himalayan ice.
As the search for missing pilgrims continues, the significance of Mount Kailash as a spiritual destination remains undiminished, drawing devotees from around the world to its sacred landscapes.
According to Associated Press, the situation remains dire as rescue efforts are underway.