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DHARAMSHALA, June 16: A Chinese government’s official news agency
has referred to Kailash Mansarover pilgrims as ‘Indian Buddhists’ instead
of Hindus. A report by Xinhua said, “Indian Buddhists have made pilgrimages
to Tibet every year since 1982.” The headline of a report by Global Times,
China's official online English newsportal, goes, “Himalayan pass opened to
help Indian Buddhist pilgrims travel to Tibet.”
This might appear to be a simple error in reporting at the first sight but
a search into archives of Xinhua shows that Hindus have been referred to as
‘Indian Buddhists’ or simply pilgrims in old reports.
The shortest land route between India and Tibet will be opened for Indian
pilgrims heading for Mount Kailash later this month as ties between the two
countries warm up following Chinese president’s India visit and Indian PM
Modi’s China visit.
The Nathula Pass, between Dromo in Tibet and Indian state of Sikkim, had
been a historic trade route between India and Tibet but remained shut for
44 years following the Sino-Indian war of 1962. The pass was reopened in
2006 for trade purposes only.
The pass, about 4,500 meters above sea level, China has decided to open the
route to Indian citizens to facilitate their travel to Tibet and further
promote exchanges between the two countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping
said during his India visit in September last year.
The opening of the pass for pilgrimage is being welcomed by the Hindus in
India. Pilgrims believe that the travel time will be reduced drastically
and it will make the journey easier for many, including elderly people and
children.
Hindus from India have made pilgrimages to Tibet since 1982. In 1990, China
and India agreed that 16 batches of Indian pilgrims, with 40 to 50 people
in each batch, would be allowed to travel to Tibet between June and
September every year.
In past years, Indian pilgrims traveling by land entered Tibet through
Purang in Ngari.
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