Kinnar Kailash Yatra.
Kinnaur News: The controversy regarding the famous ‘Kinnar Kailash Yatra’ is continuously deepening in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Villagers of several panchayats of Tukpa-Khunag area and hundreds of people associated with the local Dev Samaj took out a huge protest rally at the district headquarters Reckong Peo. The protesters have submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kinnaur demanding to stop this religious pilgrimage completely and forever. The villagers have warned that if strict action is not taken against those traveling secretly, they will be forced to protest.
Local residents and representatives of Dev Samaj have clarified that their protest is not against anyone’s personal or religious beliefs. There are mainly three big reasons for their opposition. Local resident Ram Lal Negi said that the family deities of many villages of the area including Powari and Ribba have given strict orders through ‘Devvani’ (messages of the gods through Gur) to completely stop the Kinnar Kailash Yatra. According to Dev Samaj, violating these orders is against local traditions and religious decorum.
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Huge damage to environment and water sources
The villagers allege that due to the arrival of a large number of outside devotees during the Yatra, huge filth is spreading at this very sacred and sensitive site. The natural water sources of the mountains are being polluted by the garbage left by the travelers. Apart from this, the rare herbs and vegetation found at high altitude are also being damaged, due to which the ecological balance of the entire region is deteriorating.
Ignoring local beliefs and traditions
Jiya Lal Negi, Gyan Devi and Sneh Negi, who were involved in the protest, said that local god traditions and sacred rules were being ignored by outsiders during the yatra. Due to this, the original cultural identity and religious purity of Kinnaur is being hurt.
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Outrage over traveling secretly despite administrative ban
The biggest anger of the villagers is that people are still traveling disregarding the rules. In view of the ongoing threats of landslides and glacier breakage in the area, the Kinnaur administration has already postponed this yatra till further orders. Villagers allege that despite government ban, some anti-social elements and devotees are traveling secretly and through illegal routes. The protesters said that the administration has completely failed to stop it, due to which there is huge resentment among the Dev community.
What is Kinnar Kailash and its religious significance?
Kinnar Kailash is one of the most inaccessible and sacred peaks of Himachal Pradesh, to which both Hindu and Buddhist religions have faith. Situated at a very high altitude of about 4,800 meters (about 15,700 feet) above sea level, there is a huge natural boulder on this mountain peak, which is considered to be the form of Lord Shiva (Shivalinga). This Shivalinga is about 79 feet high. This yatra is usually organized every year between July and August. Its main route starts from Tangling village near Kalpa. It is considered to be one of the toughest treks in the country, in which devotees have to complete a steep and dangerous climb of about 18 to 20 kilometers.
