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This episode of India First covers two developments: the debate over relocating a mosque near the Kolkata international airport and the ongoing Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet.
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00:00Good evening, you're watching India First. I'm Gaurav Savant.
00:04There was high drama in Bengal over a group of Muslim protesters being denied entry to a 136-year-old
00:11mosque for Jumaan Namaz
00:13inside the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport premises, very close to the secondary runway of the airport.
00:23So the Airport Authority of India and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, they want the mosque which is inside
00:31the airport premises to be relocated.
00:34According to them, this mosque not only hampers operations at the secondary runway, but also with people coming in for
00:43Namaz,
00:44very close to a high security zone, is a security hazard.
00:49For decades, there's been an effort to relocate the mosque.
00:53But if you go back in history, neither the Jyoti Basu government, nor the Budhadev Bhattacharya government of the left,
01:02or even 15 years of Mamata Banerji, Trinamool Congress government,
01:06none of them accepted the request of airport authorities to relocate this mosque.
01:12And imagine, because of this mosque at the secondary runway, the full use of the primary and the secondary runway
01:21for wide-bodied aircraft to land, to take off, it just can't happen.
01:25The BJP is now blaming it on Muslim appeasement politics of the Trinamool Congress and the left.
01:34Currently, Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, he not only prohibited entry to this mosque citing security,
01:42but is also believed to be working on a plan to create awareness so that the mosque can be relocated
01:50and airport expansion plans can finally be implemented.
01:55And there is good reason for it.
01:57The primary runway is about 3,633 metres long.
02:02The operational length of the secondary runway, right next to the mosque, because of the mosque, has been reduced to
02:102,832 metres.
02:12And then there is also the adjacent pond.
02:15Imagine, Shah Nawaz Hussain, when he was civil aviation minister, in 2003, he tried to have this mosque relocated.
02:26He failed.
02:27And this brings us to our top question of the day.
02:31Can some be permitted to stop modernisation in a very sensitive, high-security zone?
02:42Can they be permitted entry to a high-security zone just by showing an Aadhaar card?
02:48And you've seen the number of fake Aadhaars in Bengal in the run-up to elections.
02:53Safety of airport, safety of airport premises, safety of passengers and safety of aircraft.
03:00Is that now secondary to a mosque close to the secondary runway just because it's been there for over 136
03:08years?
03:09And is it vote bank politics first or safety first?
03:15Is it appeasement first or development first?
03:19And can anyone, any community, any religion, can they have a veto on development?
03:26Or is it now time for everyone to put their heads together and say India first, development first?
03:34We bring you that debate.
03:35We get you all sides of the story.
03:37But first, Indrajit Kundu brings you our top story tonight.
03:44A century-old mosque, a warning of protest.
03:49And a debate over security, development and religious access.
03:56The controversy over a mosque inside Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport
04:01has now snowballed into one of Bengal's biggest political flashpoints.
04:07Public access to the mosque has remained suspended for days with authorities citing security concerns.
04:15Ahead of a protest call, the airport witnessed heavy deployment of CAPF and Bengal police personnel
04:22while prohibitory orders were enforced to prevent any law and order situation.
04:29Siddhikala Chaudhary, West Bengal President of the Jamaat Ule Mahind,
04:34has emerged as a face of the campaign against the restrictions on access to the mosque.
04:39Responding to his call, several worshippers reached the mosque for Friday prayers,
04:43wearing black armbands in a symbolic protest.
04:46The Jamaat leader described the scenes as a black day for Muslims and for the nation.
05:11Speaking to India today, Siddhikala maintained that neither the government nor the chief minister
05:16could order the mosque's relocation or demolition.
05:34The BJP, however, insists that the issue is not about religion, but about airport safety and development.
05:42Siddhikala and Shadritsya, West Bengal克ح, East Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal, North Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal, South
05:46Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal, South Bengal.
05:54The vampires said that the government and the government were talking about national government and the mayor's environmental conditions were
06:02named at the right time.
06:04It is the only reason it had this dispute that the international movement began being done at the table.
06:10The war is taken to another country's debate,
06:10the Hungarian Chinese.
06:22The controversy has now spilled across the border.
06:26In Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, protesters marched against the restrictions on access to the mosque,
06:32carrying provocative banners targeting BJP MLA Saurav Sikdar,
06:37who had taken up the issue with the Union Aviation Ministry.
06:41I just want to know what is his agenda to offer namaz, in particular that mosque which is situated in
06:51a security level 3 area.
06:54I'll request the government agency to investigate that.
06:59What is behind this? What is his vested interest?
07:03There is enough evidence that the mosque is interfering with airport operations.
07:09Standing just 165 metres from the secondary runway, short of the prescribed 240 metre minimum distance,
07:17the mosque has restricted full utilisation of the runway.
07:21As a result, the usable length of the second runway is limited to 2,832 metres.
07:27The touch-down point has had to be shifted by 88 metres.
07:32Wide-body aircraft continue to rely on the main runway and operations during dense fog remain constrained.
07:41The mosque may predate the airport, but nothing can and should come in the way of national security and development,
07:48not even religious sentiments.
07:50And that is what this entire controversy boils down to.
07:54With Inderjeet Kundu and Tapu Sen Gupta, Bureau Report, India Today.
08:02And which brings us to our question of the day.
08:05Can some people have a veto on development because of their religion?
08:10Now, is this India first or is it appeasement politics first?
08:15And before I get you political voices on this, I want to bring in an aviation security expert.
08:21I want to bring in an aviator.
08:22Captain Sanjay Karve joins us on this broadcast.
08:25He's a pilot. He's an aviator.
08:27Captain Karve, welcome.
08:28I want to understand your reading as an aviator.
08:32A mosque inside the airport's secondary runway, which is not only preventing the expansion of the runway.
08:40The touchdown point has been reduced by 88 metres.
08:44There's a pond next to it.
08:46Wide-bodied aircraft cannot land and take off from the secondary runway.
08:49How much of a hindrance is a mosque inside an airport runway in your view, sir?
08:57Gaurav, good evening.
08:59At the outset, let me inform your viewers.
09:02Let us not turn this into a religious issue.
09:05This is an issue which is affecting the infrastructure part of the airport.
09:11Kolkata is a major metro city.
09:13And if you look at the number of flights that operate from Kolkata,
09:16it's only 300 to 400 flights a day.
09:20Bengalis take pride on their so-called Bengali osmita.
09:23Where is that Bengali osmita gone when you realize that a city like Hyderabad has more departures and arrivals than
09:31Kolkata,
09:31which was once upon a time a major international hub?
09:34In today's turbulent situations, when most of the flights are flying eastwards,
09:39Kolkata becomes a fueling hub, which is not practical to use.
09:44It is one of those lucky places in the country which has got two parallel runways.
09:50And unfortunately, we cannot use the other runway.
09:53If you have to use an instrument landing system,
09:56the lateral distance required to place your glide slope is from 120 meters to 300 meters.
10:03How do you place an instrument landing system on the secondary runway?
10:07How do you use the secondary runway in bad weather?
10:11How do you use the short length of runway?
10:13Sir, ILS Cat 3B system, and for the benefit of our viewers,
10:16in a foggy situation, an aircraft cannot come in to land,
10:20even if it's an emergency landing on the secondary runway.
10:23So Cat 3B cannot even be installed is what you're saying, sir.
10:26Absolutely, because there is not sufficient distance for the equipment to be installed.
10:30I do not agree with this fact that for the last 100 years, we have been using it.
10:36If that be the logic, there should be no development at all.
10:39Because for the last 100 years, we have never been using EV cars.
10:42We have never been using jet engines.
10:45We have to change with time.
10:46If you want to move the nation forward, forget about India first.
10:50If you want to move forward, you have to abandon certain things.
10:54And what I gather is the government is not talking about demolition.
10:57They are saying that we will physically lift that mosque.
11:01We have the technology available.
11:02And reposition it on a land which is closer to the airport.
11:06They are not even talking of shifting it miles away.
11:09So I really find no reason.
11:11Having such an obstruction within the airport premises is positively a hazard.
11:17You have an asset available, a second runway, a second parallel runway, which cannot be used.
11:23There cannot be more gross misuse.
11:26There is a very pertinent point you raised, sir.
11:29Stay with me for a moment.
11:30I quickly want to cut across to BJP's MLA from Dum Dum North, Saurav Siddhar.
11:35It's his constituency where this airport is located.
11:38He has been one of the most vocal advocates for relocating the mosque.
11:43In fact, he raised the issue earlier with the civil aviation minister and ministry.
11:47Saurav Siddhar, welcome.
11:48Sir, Siddiquullah Chaudhary, the Jamaite Olimai Hind Bengal chief and leader is now calling denial of permission to offer namaz
11:58at this mosque inside the airport premises as a black day for India.
12:03Sir, if namaz was being offered here for decades, why stop it now?
12:13Well, it's not a today's issue, Gaurav ji.
12:17This issue has been raised on 1999 in parliament by then BJP MP late Tapan Siddhar sahab, who was my
12:28late uncle.
12:29Then in 2002, civil aviation minister, Sayyad Sahana Jusenji, submitted a report that that mosque should be relocated from the
12:43runway.
12:44But the left government was not at all cooperated in this issue and they denied the reason behind showing that
12:56law and order can be a problem, controlling law and order can be a problem.
13:01Then, the moment West Bengal got his own BJP government, we came into the power, our respected CM, Mr. Subendu
13:14Adhikari, specially taken interest for expansion of the airport and this mosque is not only a technical problem but also
13:25a security threat and safety issues.
13:30Because, Gaurav ji, as you know, already you have shown on your server show, only permission is required to enter
13:41in tier 3 security area, that is in the runway, that you need an Aadhar card and a particular village
13:48name should be written there.
13:50Showing an Aadhar card, you can get access for offering namad in that particular masjid which is situated in the
14:00runway and in Mamata Banerjee's regime, making a false Aadhar card almost was a small scale industry.
14:08So, it was so easily available.
14:11Sir, tell me this, tell me this.
14:14From last 2-3 days.
14:16Yes, efforts have been made even in the past and you mentioned for decades to expand the secondary runway, all
14:23efforts failed.
14:24What is the strategy of the Subendu Adhikari government in Bengal and, of course, the Narendra Modi government at the
14:30center to finally, you know, ensure that that expansion takes place?
14:36Do you have a strategy that the mosque can be relocated despite the opposition?
14:44Sir, this is the uniqueness of double-engine government, so that coordination was missing from 1999 when this issue was
14:55raised first time.
14:57So, that is the uniqueness of double-engine government, so that central and state coordination are smooth and development takes
15:07place fast.
15:08So, sir, already we had a several joint meeting even with the presence of Siddhi Kulla Choudhury at administrative level.
15:18I was also present there.
15:19We offered them, we are ready to help for the relocation of the mosque.
15:24We offered them, we can even build a new mosque bigger than this.
15:29Airport Authority was ready to offer a land also.
15:33But Siddhi Kulla Choudhury's demand was, this mosque cannot be even relocated from there.
15:40This mosque is situated in a land of Airport Authority of India.
15:45And as per Siddhi Kulla Choudhury, we need permission from serval Muslim bodies to relocate the mosque.
15:54Then I protested, I said, in India, only rule of India government will be applied.
16:01No Sariyati law, no Muslim border law will be applied there.
16:06So, how will you deal with the Siddhi Kulla Choudhury's of Bengal, sir?
16:12Because, Sarof Siddhar, please explain, how will you deal with the Siddhi Kulla Choudhury's of Bengal who insist, one, mosque
16:18cannot be relocated, two, if you need to relocate it, go to Darul Uloom and take their permission and go
16:24to several other Muslim bodies and get their permission?
16:27How will you move forward?
16:32No, very interestingly, today in Dhaka, one procession has been organized for my death penalty.
16:43And interestingly, the organization's name is Jamaat-e-Ul Bangladesh and Siddhi Kulla Choudhury chaired an organization called Jamaat-e
16:57-Ul-Hin.
16:58So, you can understand what is the reason behind that.
17:03But yes, this is BJP's government, this is Sumendu Adhikari is the chief minister of this government.
17:10So, anybody, if dare to break the law, law will take his own action.
17:17Siddhi Kulla Choudhury, people like Siddhi Kulla Choudhury, they only, you know, they have a shop of religions.
17:26They sell religion.
17:27So, I appeal with all the law-abandoned Muslims, all the good Muslims, all the citizens of India who are
17:39nationalists, that please don't be provoked by his provocation.
17:44Absolutely, keep India first.
17:47That's a very pertinent point you make, sir.
17:49Many thanks for joining me.
17:50But do stay safe that these radical Islamists from across do not target you.
17:55Stay safe.
17:55I hope adequate security is provided to you.
17:57I want to bring in Mawlana Sajid Rashidi, president of the All India Imam Association, joining us.
18:03Captain Sanjay Karve remains with us.
18:04Priyanka Tibrawal of the Bharatiya Janda Party also joins us.
18:08Mawlana Sajid Rashidi, this is a black day if the government and security is in the mosque in the mosque,
18:17can the airport in the mosque, airport in the modernization of the mosque, can the airport in the mosque, airport
18:24in the mosque, can the modernization of the mosque?
18:27Mawlana Sajid Rashidi, this is a black day if the government is in the mosque, it is a black day
18:34if the government is in the mosque.
19:01Mawlana Sajid, this is a black day if the government is in the mosque.
19:17Mawlana Sajid, this is a black day if the on the mosque said all the public yes or for the
19:21oczywiście means that the holy fora of the mosque has been raised by the mosque, so it won't find out
19:23that the uniform to remove the mosque.
19:28Yes, it is a black deal if the response is in the mosque without being Professor of the mosque.
20:00I want to bring in Priyanka.
20:06Priyanka Tibriwal, what is the way forward in case Moulana Saab says,
20:14See, luteons like him have always, you know, spoken against the development of our country and our nation.
20:21And always we have seen them supporting anti-national thoughts.
20:25Not just that, we are talking of relocation.
20:29We are talking of lifting and shifting.
20:32Now he has said, what has he said?
20:33We are not like Adha Dharmas.
20:35You know, we are more strong than what the Adha Dharmas or any other religion is.
20:40Our stand is very strict that we will not move.
20:43This is written in our religion.
20:45Where is it written in your religion?
20:46Please show.
20:47Show pointed out where it is written.
20:49When they try to cut things, turn and twist it, so that they can create, you know, just a statement,
20:58which can be shown by pointing out towards other religions.
21:02That, see, this is against our religion and this is what?
21:05This is the government.
21:06This is a part of the party who is going against Islamism, who is going against Islam.
21:40It is no way that it is written in the Quran.
22:09This is a part of the country.
22:31And I want to bring in Captain Kerwe.
22:40No sir, no sir, no sir, you can say it, we need to say it, but I want to bring
22:46in Captain Carvey very briefly.
22:48Captain Carvey, when you have to understand that in 1924, when there was an aerodrome made,
22:54they were small, small runway from the takeoff, now the latest, wide-bodied women,
23:00they need more places, will Muslims also have to go with time with time, Captain Carvey?
23:06Gaurav, I have just one thing to add, he is talking of his fellow religious brothers,
23:12the records show that on an average 40 people visit there to pray,
23:17and on Fridays on special occasions, there are about 80 people,
23:21okay, so not more than 4000 people in a year,
23:24just imagine if we have a new or extended runway coming in,
23:28how many more Haji's can travel directly from Kolkata today,
23:32and Haji from West Bengal has to either go to Delhi or has to come to Mumbai for his religious
23:38journey,
23:39isn't his own people going to get benefited, forget about India,
23:43I am not even talking of India, shouldn't he look at his own people getting benefited?
23:47Gaurav sequal giving saying that by Al-Wafnay is story better,
23:52it has nothing private, it has nothing to have to go with,
23:54it is not the matter of complete, the matter of office may be the man성,
23:58It is of 24 years prior to airport,
24:00which was made before船開始,
24:02could take care of airport authority,
24:03could have inside the state of airports?
24:26foreign
24:27foreign
24:40I absolutely agree to what you've just said.
24:59That if it is a question of development of our nation, then it doesn't matter even if it is a
25:03mandir.
25:04Then go through the legal process and do the needful.
25:07Nobody is saying a no to him.
25:09But here also I would like to mention that this mosque sits deep inside a high security zone.
25:16And the security of our nation is priority.
25:19The security of our country is a priority.
25:23And he will have to agree to that.
25:25The government will take necessary answers.
25:29They are not scared.
25:30See, we are a strong government.
25:32We are not scared for somebody like Cidipul Nakhoudini.
25:35And the person sitting right here.
25:38I'm sorry, I am just missing on his name.
25:40So we do not care what they think.
25:43Because it is important what the nation thinks.
25:46It is important that issues which are in regard to the national security,
25:49those should be our concern and priority.
26:20Absolutely.
26:37So we have to say that the people who don't want to respond.
27:02we have offered a rehabilitation scheme under the scheme we have offered the lifting and shifting of
27:09the masjid and again i repeat myself but it doesn't matter whatever they are saying or doing
27:15in order to you know create a provocative situation but this cannot be done under this
27:21government because this is not mahmatav anarchy's government that they will come to the road do
27:25blockage do riots and do destruction of properties and then we will bend in front of you not at all
27:31sorry it's a matter of security it is a matter of security it is a matter of security
27:34is this a matter of security it is the right that you can be a master of security
27:42saying you can't see it as a masa that when you 여�ать
27:47not to stop the security of the Kurdistan Center of the West
28:01Now, the focus very clearly is on that one particular...
28:05Okay, Captain Carvey, last 30 seconds to you, sir.
28:07Closing comments to you.
28:09Development or religion first or India first?
28:12Captain Carvey.
28:14India first, development and then religion.
28:16Point to note here is,
28:17Kolkata airport or then Dum Dum airport
28:19was constructed in 1924 by the Britishers
28:22near the Royal Artillery Armory.
28:25It was to facilitate Trump or troop movements
28:28and transit for military aircraft in the World War.
28:33It was not thought as a transit for civilian flights
28:36and that is why the area which was taken over was small.
28:39The basic concept of that airport was different
28:42from what he is justifying today.
28:44You cannot use this justification.
28:45Oh, absolutely.
28:46I've run out of time on this part of the show,
28:48but this is a story we'll be tracking very closely.
28:51I want to thank Priyanka Tibriwal,
28:53Boulana Sajid Rashidi and Captain Carvey
28:55for joining me here
28:57and absolutely it is and always should be
29:01and has to be India first,
29:04nation first.
29:21Chanting this Mahamritin Jai Mantra
29:24and also chants of Har Har Mahadev,
29:28thousands and thousands of pilgrims
29:30are making their way to Tibet
29:32for this holy Mount Kailash
29:34and Mansarovar Yatra.
29:37India today gets you this special broadcast
29:40from an altitude of 15,100 feet
29:43in Darchan
29:45and we will over the course of the next half hour
29:47get you detailed interaction
29:49with devotees and pilgrims
29:51about what's good in this journey,
29:53what has been better
29:54and what can be made better.
29:57So let's embark on this holy journey
30:00to Mount Kailash
30:01and Lake Mansarovar
30:03with the chant of
30:04Har Har Mahadev.
30:13Here I saw that one of the eyes
30:15came out of water
30:15and I don't know why.
30:17What was your value?
30:18It was an important part.
30:21I was very impressed
30:22that a lot of people
30:22were watching us.
30:30I was very impressed
30:31with this
30:32and a lot.
30:39It was interesting
30:46that people
30:46are looking for
30:48I just felt that now you don't have anything to do.
30:52How was the experience?
30:54I don't know what to express. It's been awesome.
30:57I'm so grateful to God that He has given me a chance to come here and see the divinity of
31:02Riviera.
31:10We had a lot of time here before two days.
31:13But it's just that if He's called it, why not?
31:16We will do this whole life.
31:33Mount Kailash, located in the Tibet Autonomous Regions Gari Prefecture in China,
31:41is considered sacred in several religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and bond religion.
31:51It rises over 21,778 feet above sea level, beginning from Darchan, which is situated at a height of 15
32:02,338 feet.
32:14We are currently at an altitude of about 15,100 feet.
32:19The lake that you see behind me is Rakshastal.
32:24This is barely a stone-throat distance from Lake Mansarovar, amongst the world's highest freshwater lakes.
32:33And the difference could be more stark.
32:36While at Lake Mansarovar, it is seen as a life-giving lake.
32:42Rakshastal, there is no life in this lake.
32:45While it's a huge, huge lake that you see around me, but there are no fish in this.
32:51People come here.
32:52People come here.
32:53They do pray here.
32:54However, they do not do a parikrama.
32:58They just come, pray and then they leave.
33:02It is believed that Ravan, while praying to Lord Shiv, prayed at Rakshastal.
33:10And it's because of his sense of, he was so conceited that it did not bring the kind of glory
33:19that he sought.
33:20And even the water here turned salty.
33:28The number of pilgrims visiting the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet varies significantly, depending on the route
33:37chosen and the specific year.
33:40The Government of India operated tour datas.
33:43In pre-COVID period capped numbers strictly, averaging 1,000 to 1,350 pilgrims annually.
33:51After a five-year suspension due to COVID-19 and diplomatic standoffs, the MEA route resumed in 2025.
34:01About 750 pilgrims were allowed.
34:05For the 2026 season, the Government expanded this slightly to 20 batches, confirming roughly 1,000 seats.
34:16Historically, private operators have brought anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 plus pilgrims during a standard May to September
34:27window.
34:32For the devotees of the Sanatana Dharma, you come, you take the holy water, you bathe in this holy water,
34:41and it cleanses your past sins.
34:44But that is symbolism.
34:45Beyond the symbolism, being here, undertaking this very difficult journey, it inspires you.
34:53It inspires you to be a better human being.
34:56To be in the land of the gods, the land of Lord Shiv and Mahaparvati, and get rid of your
35:05vices, anger, jealousy, hatred.
35:10Strive to be intelligent.
35:13Strive to be compassionate.
35:15Strive to be helpful.
35:16This journey is all about rediscovering yourself.
35:24The entire circuit takes around two to three days for completion, with the highest point being the Dolmala Pass.
35:32It is situated at 18,471 feet.
35:37Both Indian and Chinese governments have been working hard to improve facilities throughout the route for a better pilgrimage experience.
35:48Here in China, how have the arrangements been?
35:52Arrangements were fantastic.
35:54We faced little hassle in the immigration, but overall like that we were taken into the buses and the journey
36:03was like, treatment was very good.
36:05Like VIP treatment.
36:07Any scope for improvement that you may want to suggest?
36:10Not really.
36:11It was very nice.
36:13During the Yatra, all the days of Yatra, it was an enriching experience.
36:17I don't think, especially through MEA, it is very nice.
36:26Kailash months are over pilgrimage numbers experience massive spikes during specific astrological years.
36:352026 is a fire horse year in the Tibetan zodiac.
36:39It is a rare spiritual alignment that happens only once every 60 years.
36:46In Tibetan and Hindu traditions, completing the 52-kilometre Parikrama or the circumvallation around Mount Kailash during a horse year
36:56is believed to multiply spiritual merit 13-fold.
37:01Therefore, the pilgrim numbers have surged drastically.
37:06In 2025, around 20,750 pilgrims visited across all routes after the borders fully reopened.
37:17In 2026, close to 24,000 pilgrims have already completed the pilgrimage midway through the season.
37:28What is equally remarkable about Lake Mansarover and several lakes that emerge from the glaciers like Kailash Parvat and other
37:40glaciers here is that this is the cradle.
37:45This provides water for the Indus river, the Satluj river, the Karnali river and the Brahmaputra river known as the
37:56Yarlung Sangpo here.
37:58It flows out from here, from Tibet into India, more water and more tributaries join in and then it becomes
38:08the mighty Brahmaputra.
38:09The Sindhu Saraswati Sabhita as we know it.
38:14It's waters from here that is the cradle of the oldest and the most flourishing civilization that continues and continues
38:25to grow.
38:32For Tibetan Buddhists, Mount Kailash known as Gang Rimpoche is the earthly manifestation of Mount Meru, the spiritual center of
38:44the universe.
38:44They believe the great saint Milarepa resided here.
38:51Performing the arduous khora or circumvitation around its base purges a lifetime of sins, bringing practitioners closer to ultimate enlightenment.
39:05Many devotees believe, and very strongly, that gods live here.
39:11They believe there are many mysteries around Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar that they cannot fathom, they cannot even dream
39:20of solving those mysteries.
39:22There are those with blind faith who insist that they can see Lord Shiva, they can see Ma Parvati.
39:30There are many who say that this region, Mount Kailash, which is seen as magnetic fields and compasses failing in
39:43this area, they believe that this is the center of the entire universe.
39:49That is why it is the home of Lordship.
39:57Hindus collect the pristine water of Mansarovar in copper, brass or silver flasks.
40:04This water is believed to contain immense purifying properties.
40:09Yatris bring it home to share with family, sprinkle around their houses for purification, and preserve it for use in
40:17future sacred rituals.
40:19Especially for Abhishekham or ritual bathing of shivalingams.
40:29Sharma Ji, how was your experience?
40:31It was fantastic.
40:32My whole team is so excited.
40:35Before the start of the journey, but after completion, they feel like they have attained something, you know.
40:40It's a memorable journey for us.
40:42The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is seen as attaining salvation, attaining moksha.
40:49Right.
40:49Do you feel as if you're closer to the Almighty, to Lord Shiva, to Ma Parvati, you've been blessed by
40:56them?
40:56Absolutely, absolutely.
40:57We all feel like that, you know.
40:59We have a different feeling we can't describe in verse.
41:04Those devotees who cannot walk, avail of the pony service to complete the circumrelation.
41:17So the Holy Mount Kailash Yatra begins from this point.
41:21Till here, vehicles are permitted.
41:24Devotees, they reach here in buses or in cars or as part of their tours.
41:30And from here, those who can walk, they walk to the Yamdwar and then begin the Parikrama.
41:37Those who cannot walk, they take potas and ponies.
41:42Yamdwar is seen as the beginning of the Yatra.
41:46In fact, it is seen as the doorway of exiting this realm and entering the realm of Mahadev, the realm
41:56of Lord Shiva.
41:58Let's begin the journey.
42:05As the turquoise water of Mansarovar shines behind them, with the Mount Kailash standing at a distance, pilgrims describe the
42:15experience as divine.
42:22How was your journey?
42:25It was our journey of Samarpit.
42:29It was our journey.
42:31It was our three journey.
42:32It was our journey.
42:33It was our journey of Mahadev.
42:46My journey of Mahadev is my mother's journey.
42:50I have just been here.
42:53There is no reason for it.
42:55And there is no reason for it.
42:57When there was a journey of Music and Bhagavan Kailash by Lamar Kailash by Marina Svarapar,
43:04way theında and Guru-Sarakshat shiv.
43:07It is longevitical in the near future.
43:09When you're waiting for the time for this time,
43:12you have a son of Baba.
43:13But as we saw Krishna Paurava and Guru's journey,
43:13In the third yug of Ramana bow,
43:18I was able to fulfill the path through the path through the path through the path through the path through
43:19the path.
43:19And the time when you're following the path through the path,
43:22I've been in Aristarcha and the path through the path through the path through the path,
43:25And Państwa and the path through the path through the path,
43:26It's all done.
43:28It's all done.
43:29It's all done.
43:30It's all done.
43:38Beyond the green cover,
43:40in these tracks of mountain desert,
43:43pilgrims
43:44go through spiritual experience
43:46that truly challenges
43:48physical limitations.
43:51As we climb from the road head
43:53to the Yamdwar for our journey
43:55to the Holy Kailash Mountain,
43:57we cross this
43:59very pious land of the
44:02Buddhists.
44:03Kailash Parvat is very auspicious
44:06not just for Hindus, but also
44:08for the followers of Buddhism.
44:10Now, it is said, this pole
44:12right behind me, the victory pole
44:14was established
44:16by the fifth Dalai Lama
44:18in honor of those who made
44:19the supreme sacrifice of their lives
44:21uniting Tibet
44:23under one flag.
44:25And every year, in the month of April,
44:28these flags are changed
44:29that victory is celebrated.
44:38At the Yamdwar in Darchan,
44:40considered to be the doorway
44:42of the God of Death,
44:44Hindu and Buddhist devotees
44:46offer their prayers
44:47before starting the Parikrama.
44:49They tie a sacred cloth,
44:52strike a gong,
44:54burn incense sticks
44:55and keep offerings in the memory
44:58of the family members
44:59who have passed away.
45:03the Yamdwar.
45:04This is the Yamdwar,
45:05the entrance or the entry
45:08to the Kailash Parvat
45:09for the Yatra.
45:11The significance is,
45:13this is where you leave your worldly
45:16possessions behind
45:17and then enter into the realm
45:19of Lord Shiva.
45:21The belief is,
45:23you want to emerge
45:24a better human being.
45:26So let's now enter,
45:27the Parikrama is done thrice
45:30and once the Parikrama is done,
45:32then you enter the Yamdwar
45:35and just look around,
45:36there is a sea of devotees
45:38from across the country.
45:40The Yamdwar is extremely significant
45:43because the Yamdwar signifies
45:47all the sins in the past
45:49have been left behind
45:50and now you hope to emerge
45:53a better person.
45:58Just look at that beautiful mountain
46:00behind me there.
46:02Look at that magnificent mountain
46:05nestled in the clouds right now.
46:08That is the abode
46:09of Lord Shiva
46:11and the Yatra
46:12extremely difficult
46:15but it is the road
46:17to salvation.
46:18The Yatra begins.
46:22When Hindu devotees cross over
46:25from one side of the small temple
46:27of Yamdwar
46:28to another chanting
46:31Om Namah Shivai
46:32they believe they have crossed over
46:35from the Bhulok
46:37or earth
46:38to Kailash
46:40or the abode of Lord Shiva.
46:44And after crossing the Yamdwar,
46:47we begin
46:48a part of this journey.
46:51While this journey is
46:52over 50 kilometers
46:54and takes three days,
46:56we are covering a part of this
47:00to be able to show you
47:02how there are certain facilities
47:04that have been improved
47:05over the years.
47:07In fact, even compared to last year,
47:09certain facilities have been improved.
47:11Tracks have been improved here.
47:13The Chinese authorities were just telling us
47:15that this track has been made entirely
47:18motorable in an emergency
47:20should there be a requirement
47:22to rescue any pilgrim
47:24who may require emergency help.
47:26So this track is now
47:28motorable for jeeps
47:29that is kitted up
47:31with like an ambulance
47:33and has doctors on board.
47:36As you see behind me,
47:38buses carrying pilgrims.
47:40There you see a bus.
47:41I'm sure you can see that bus there.
47:44Let me try and show it to you.
47:45So that bus can come up to an area
47:48but beyond that,
47:49they are not making it
47:49into a metal road.
47:51Beyond that,
47:52it will remain a track
47:54because they say,
47:55while comfort of pilgrims
47:57is very important,
47:59so is the environment.
48:04The Chinese government recommends
48:06that the yatra should be undertaken
48:08by devotees who are aged
48:10less than 60 years.
48:12But that does not stop
48:13several Indian yathris
48:15from bringing devotion
48:16at the feet of Mount Kailash.
48:19Each year,
48:20things better a little
48:21compared to last.
48:23Yet there remains a lot to improve.
48:31A lot of changes have been made,
48:33especially in the last couple of years.
48:35What are the changes
48:36that have been made
48:36to make this journey
48:37more comfortable
48:38for devotees and pilgrims?
48:39So for the pilgrims
48:40in the front
48:41is compared to the past few years.
48:43So every year
48:44is changing a lot.
48:45For example,
48:46the main thing
48:47is for the accommodation
48:48for Yatri.
48:49Lots of tea shops
48:50are with a better condition
48:52as much as every year
48:53is getting better.
48:55And the second one
48:56is the main thing.
48:57You see,
48:58the road conditions
48:59except only
49:01that the secondary pass.
49:02So from both ways,
49:03the government
49:05pushed a lot of effort
49:06to make every year
49:07make this road better conditions.
49:13And as we move forward
49:14on this journey,
49:16this is a very tough journey,
49:18no doubt.
49:19It's difficult to breathe.
49:21You are at an altitude
49:22of over 15,000 feet
49:23and breathing becomes
49:26very difficult here.
49:27But it's the devotion
49:29that carries you through.
49:32Devotion in Lord Shiv.
49:37Buddhist devotees keep
49:39the skeletal remains
49:40of a york's horns
49:41and head
49:43as a means of gratitude
49:45after their wish
49:46is believed to be fulfilled.
49:49Hindu pilgrims actively
49:51look for and collect
49:52smooth natural stones
49:54or pebbles
49:55from the banks
49:57of Lake Mansarovar
49:58or along the arduous
50:0052-kilometer
50:01Parikrama route
50:02around Mount Kailash.
50:05The southern face
50:07of Mount Kailash
50:08is viewed by Hindus
50:09as a massive
50:10natural cosmic shivalingam.
50:14Because of this,
50:15the rocks and pebbles
50:17found in its immediate vicinity
50:19are not viewed
50:21as mere stones,
50:22but as fragments
50:24radiating the residual
50:27yogic energy
50:28of Lord Shiva.
50:30These stones,
50:31often referred to as
50:32Kailashilas,
50:34are carried back
50:35to be placed
50:36permanently
50:37in home altars.
50:38They are treated
50:40as self-manifested idols
50:41or Swayambhu
50:43and are worshipped daily.
50:48For centuries,
50:49devotees have been
50:50facing hardships
50:52taking this very,
50:54very difficult pilgrimage.
50:56And it is an extremely
50:57difficult pilgrimage
50:58in the good old days.
51:00When people left
51:01for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra,
51:03they were almost written off
51:05that it was a blessing
51:06if they returned.
51:13Unlike the arduous
51:14past single route,
51:16today there are
51:17three primary routes
51:18for this yatra.
51:20The oldest of these three
51:22is through
51:22Lipu Lake Pass
51:23in Uttarakhand.
51:24Starting from Delhi
51:26via Almora,
51:27pilgrims reach Dharchula.
51:29From there,
51:30they travel to Gunji,
51:31cross Lipu Lake Pass
51:33to reach Taklakot
51:35in Tibet border.
51:37And then,
51:38Lake Mansarovar.
51:40And finally,
51:41Mount Kailash.
51:43This route
51:44takes approximately
51:4522 to 25 days
51:48and is a physically
51:49demanding journey
51:50that involves
51:51extensive
51:52high-altitude trekking.
51:54Second is the Nathula Pass
51:56in Sikkim.
51:57Starting from Gangtok,
51:59crossing through
52:00Nathula Pass,
52:01pilgrims reach Lhasa
52:03or Shigatse.
52:05Then Taklakot first
52:07to Lake Mansarovar
52:09and then finally
52:11Mount Kailash.
52:12This route
52:13takes approximately
52:1421 to 23 days.
52:17It requires minimal trekking
52:18on the way
52:19to the base camp.
52:20As the vast majority
52:22of the journey
52:22is covered
52:23by motorable roads
52:25and scenic drives
52:26through Sikkim
52:27and the Tibetan Plateau.
52:29And then,
52:30there is the Kathmandu route
52:31and is the most popular,
52:34flexible
52:34and frequently used route.
52:37Entirely run
52:38by private tour operators.
52:40There are two main travel options.
52:43In the overland option,
52:46Pilgrims drive from Kathmandu
52:47to the Nepal-Tibet border
52:49at Kirong
52:51and then travel across
52:53the Tibetan Plateau
52:54by road to Mansarovar.
52:58It takes around 13 to 14 days.
53:01Second is the helicopter option
53:03which is a much faster alternative
53:05where pilgrims fly from Kathmandu
53:08to Simicot
53:09and then take a brief helicopter ride
53:12to the Hilsa border
53:14and then drive to Taklakot.
53:16This option takes about 9 to 11 days.
53:22A sea of devotees
53:24on the roof of the world
53:25here in Tibet.
53:27A very large number of pilgrims
53:30and tourists are arriving
53:31in droves
53:33for the holy Mount Kailash
53:35and Lake Mansarovar Yatra.
53:37If you just look at the numbers
53:39last year
53:40when the Yatra started once again
53:42after COVID-19
53:44and the 2020 Galwan standoff
53:46you had about
53:4720,000 plus pilgrims
53:50in the entire Yatra season.
53:52But this year
53:52the season has just started
53:54and you already have
53:561,000 pilgrims
53:58who are on the government quota
53:59and 24,000 pilgrims
54:01who've already arrived
54:03through private tour operators
54:05and the season is expected
54:07to last
54:07till September.
54:09And
54:09the Chinese authorities
54:11we've spoken to
54:12tell us
54:13that this is part of the
54:14people to people
54:16engagement
54:17effort
54:17that was started
54:18after Prime Minister
54:20Narendra Modi
54:20and the Chinese President
54:22Xi Jinping
54:22met
54:23on the sidelines
54:24of the BRICS summit
54:26at Kazan
54:27in Russia.
54:28Now the effort is
54:29to bring
54:30even more pilgrims
54:32for the Holy
54:33Mount Kailash
54:33and Lake Mansarovar
54:35pilgrimage.
54:36The effort is
54:37to find
54:38new routes.
54:39Yes, you have
54:40the Lipu Lake route.
54:41Of course
54:42there are some problems
54:43with the Lipu Lake route
54:44now
54:45with Nepal.
54:46However,
54:47the traditional route
54:48the Nathula route
54:50the government
54:51is bringing pilgrims
54:52to the Nathula Sikkim route
54:54into Tibet
54:55and then for the Kailash
54:57Mansarovar Yatra
54:59and of course
54:59private tour operators
55:00they heli lift pilgrims
55:03bring them over to Tibet
55:05and they come here
55:06where we are standing
55:07right now in Darchan
55:08the Holy Mount Kailash
55:10in one direction
55:10and Lake Mansarovar
55:12just a little distance away.
55:14This is of course
55:1515,100 feet altitude
55:17and you require
55:18tremendous acclimatisation
55:20but for the pilgrims
55:22who carry out
55:23not just the Yatra
55:24but also the Parikrama
55:26of Lake Mansarovar
55:28and the Holy Mount Kailash
55:29they say
55:30its divine blessings
55:32of Lord Shiv
55:33that they have been able
55:35to do it
55:36and they will encourage
55:37others to do so.
55:39Kaurav Savant
55:40in Darchan
55:42Tibet
55:42for India Today Global
55:44in Darchan
55:47in Darchan
55:48and the Holy Mount Kailash
55:53The Inch
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