Union Minister Pabitra Margherita on Friday flagged off the first batch of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, which resumed after a hiatus of five years amid an improvement in India-China relations.

Margherita, who is the Minister of State for External Affairs, wished the people in the first batch of the yatra a safe journey and felicitated the group at an event held at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan.

In his remarks, the Union Minister recognised the role of various ministries and departments, such as the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the state governments of Delhi, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, and the National Informatics Centre.

Margherita appreciated the Chinese side for its cooperation with the resumption of the yatra.

In April, India announced the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from June. This year’s yatra is the first since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The resumption of the yatra was seen as a part of efforts by India and China to improve ties after the two countries completed the disengagement of troops at the two remaining friction points of Demchok and Depsang under a pact sealed in October last year.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday designated Nathu La in Sikkim and Lipulekh La (Gunji) in Uttarakhand as the authorised immigration check-posts on a temporary basis for entry into and exit from India for pilgrims of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.

The Ministry of External Affairs organises the yatra during June-September each year through two routes – Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La Pass.

Being significant to Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva, Kailash Manasarovar also holds religious importance for Jains and Buddhists.

The yatra is open to eligible Indian citizens holding valid Indian passports, who wish to proceed to Kailash Manasarovar for religious purposes.

(with inputs from PTI)