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.
