Serving pilgrims at Shri Manimahesh Yatra 2025
In 2023, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) expanded its Pilgrimage Services Program to provide medical services to pilgrims who participated in the Shri Manimahesh Yatra. Reports of our past services for this annual yatra are available on our Shri Manimahesh Yatra Pilgrimage Services page.
This year, VMRK once again served pilgrims on the Shri Manimahesh Yatra that was scheduled from August 16 to 31. Before the yatra, VMRK joined a cleanliness drive to clear long-standing waste along the route (see Cleanliness Campaign for Shri Manimahesh Yatra 2025). Impressed by our work, the administration invited VMRK to support the cleanliness campaign during the yatra. The administration also requested VMRK to donate medical equipment, and to conduct a medical camp at Gauri Kund and provide ambulance services to pilgrims, as in previous years.
Planning and preparations
Deeply grateful for another opportunity to serve pilgrims, VMRK quickly began preparations. VMRK purchased two multipara monitors and ten lightweight stretchers—four two-fold and six compact four-fold models. These were designated for the medical equipment donation.
For the medical camp, our volunteers prepared a list of medicines ranging from basic to emergency, drawing on our past experience with serving pilgrims at high altitudes. A team of volunteers packed the equipment and medicines into 79 boxes and loaded them onto a truck. On August 12, the truck, ambulance, and a tempo traveler carrying 26 medical professionals and volunteers, departed from the VMRK Nawan Nagar center.
Journey, donation, and setup
This year, unusually heavy monsoon rains in northern India damaged a hilly road along the team’s journey, making it unsafe for vehicles. The team had to stay overnight at a VMRK center before resuming the journey after the road reopened the next day. By evening, they reached Bharmour, near Hadsar and divided into three groups:
- one team began cleanliness services the next day;
- a medical team trekked up to Gauri Kund to set up the camp;
- a third team stayed to arrange transportation for the supplies and donate the medical equipment to the administration on August 16.
This year, the team could not transport the supplies to Gauri Kund using the helicopter service that had been interrupted by unfavorable weather. Instead, our volunteers arranged for 60 porters and 12 mules to transport nearly all the medical camp supplies. Although the difficult weather conditions caused a slight delay, the camp was fully operational by August 17.
Cleanliness service
VMRK volunteers started at Hadsar where they cleaned for two days, on August 14–15. Working daily from morning until evening, they collected waste in polypropylene bags and brought it to the designated garbage collection point.
On August 16, our volunteers were divided into four groups assigned to different locations along the route: Hadsar, Dhanchho, Gauri Kund, and Manimahesh Lake. Each team was assisted by another 8–12 individuals provided by the administration. From August 17, each team collected waste from food service providers, other shops, and washrooms. When it rained, the teams wore raincoats and continued cleaning on muddy, slippery ground. After serving at these locations until August 20, VMRK’s cleanliness team concluded its services in consultation with the administration.
DAYS OF FREE MEDICAL SERVICE AT VMRK'S ROUND-THE-CLOCK MEDICAL CAMP
PILGRIMS RECEIVED MEDICAL CARE FOR HIGH ALTITUDE HEALTH ISSUES
PATIENTS RECEIVED IN-HOUSE MEDICAL ATTENTION
24-hour medical services
VMRK’s medical camp, measuring 12 feet by 14 feet, was situated along the pilgrims’ path at Gauri Kund, 1 kilometer from Manimahesh Lake. Housing a 5-bed clinical treatment center, the camp was stocked with equipment, including oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, and multiparameter monitors. A team of 2 doctors, 1 pharmacist, and 11 volunteers served around-the-clock, offering free medical consultations, medicines, and first aid to pilgrims.
Given the high altitude and inclement weather, many pilgrims visited with symptoms of cold, cough, fever, breathlessness, nausea, and headache. The medical team carefully attended to them. Gauri Kund also serves as a resting point along the route. To attend to emergency cases, our volunteers carried pilgrims from their nearby resting area to the medical camp on stretchers. Some pilgrims with severely low oxygen saturation were stabilized at our camp and referred to the nearest hospital. The team also provided disposable oxygen cylinders for pilgrims to use during their return journey.
Due to torrential rain and landslides, the yatra became risky and had to be closed prematurely on August 25. However, our medical team, in consultation with the administration, continued operating the camp without interruption to serve those still on the route. Finally, on August 31, our team trekked back to Hadsar via a very challenging alternate route, with certain stretches barely wide enough for one person. Upon reaching Bharmour, the team was unable to continue further, as the road beyond was severely damaged. Instead, our volunteers had to be airlifted by the rescue team’s helicopter.
During the 14 days of service, VMRK served more than 5,600 pilgrims, wherein more than 800 patients received in-house medical attention.
Visitor feedback
Many people left comments in our visitor log, some are listed below:
I received the medicine I really needed during my Shri Manimahesh Yatra trek. VMRK’s service was extremely convenient, and the people there were very polite and understanding. I truly appreciated the way they explained all the necessary information about the medicine I was given and its usage. VMRK offered the best service at their level, with a very comfortable interaction.
The medical camp organized by VMRK, inspired by Sant Baljit Singh Ji, during the Shri Manimahesh Yatra, provided excellent services. My wife experienced low oxygen levels, and she received excellent treatment at your camp. I am deeply impressed by the medical services being provided. Thank you very much!!