Serving pilgrims at Kinnaur Kailash Yatra 2024

Every year, many pilgrims undertake the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra to pay reverence to Lord Shiva in the form of rock Shiva Lingam. This Shiva lingam is located at an altitude of 6,050 meters, near the peak of Kinnaur Kailash. The most popular pilgrimage route begins at the Tangling village. From there, pilgrims trek 14 kilometers to reach the Shiva Lingam. The entire stretch of yatra passes through steep and narrow diverse mountainous terrain. As one approaches the Shiva Lingam, the terrain transitions from mountain to meadows, and finally to a boulder-strewn stretch. Pilgrims generally complete the entire pilgrimage over the course of 3 days.

The yatra is officially permitted typically in August. Due to the arduous nature of the pilgrimage, it is accessible only to medically fit individuals. Consequently, pilgrims must obtain a medical fitness certificate at Tangling village before commencing their journey.

Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) received permission from the local administration to organize a medical camp for pilgrims undertaking the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra 2024. The medical camp, situated at Tangling village, operated from August 19 to 26, 2024.

Planning and preparation

The term Panch Kailash refers to the five holy peaks in the Himalayas that are recognized and revered as the divine abodes of Lord Shiva. Devotees embark on pilgrimages to these peaks every year. Among the Panch Kailash pilgrimages, VMRK has provided services for three: Adi Kailash Yatra, Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra, and Shri Manimahesh Yatra. The Kinnaur Kailash Yatra marks the fourth pilgrimage in the series.

VMRK prepared to serve at this yatra with the same rigour and attention as for other yatras. Since the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra 2024 is restricted to a maximum of 350 pilgrims each day, VMRK arranged sufficient medical supplies and equipment to accommodate the expected number of pilgrims. A team of VMRK volunteers packed the supplies and equipment into 26 boxes and clearly labeled each box.

On August 18, VMRK volunteers loaded a 14-x-21-foot tent, thin foam mattresses, and the medical supplies and equipment, onto a pickup truck. The pickup truck and a car with a team of medically certified doctors and volunteers, departed from the VMRK center in Nawan Nagar that night.

Arrival and setup

On August 19, the team reached the designated location at around 5 pm. They were met by volunteers from the nearby VMRK center who had come to participate in this charitable activity.

The local administration had arranged the pre-assembly of a tent measuring 12 x 12 feet to accommodate the medical team and volunteers. Adjacent to this tent, volunteers began preparing the site for the medical camp. First, the volunteers cleared the site that was strewn with rocks. After the tent was set up, the remaining setup was completed, including laying out carpets and arranging tables for the medical camp.

Medical camp at Tangling village

By nightfall, the medical camp began operating, staffed by 11 medical professionals and volunteers. Pilgrims starting their journey often left Tangling village early in the morning, while those on their return journey started arriving back by the afternoon. Accordingly, the medical camp operated around the clock to serve pilgrims who came throughout the day or night to seek medical care.

The pilgrimage is very arduous and pilgrims had to traverse large boulders along the pilgrimage route, frequently walking over the boulders, using adjacent boulders for support, and at times, crawling over them. A large number of pilgrims arrived at the medical camp with body pain, muscle cramps, and leg sprains. Many pilgrims frequently sustained hand blisters, foot blisters, and other injuries. Since this yatra took place during the monsoon season, the adverse rainy weather made the challenging terrain even more slippery and increased the risk of injuries. The medical staff carefully nursed the pilgrims’ wounds and treated many who visited the camp with colds and coughs.

The high-altitude conditions also caused breathing difficulties for some pilgrims. The camp offered disposable oxygen cylinders to these patients. Additionally, some pilgrims requested these cylinders as a precaution before starting their journey.