What to Know About Mount Kailash, Sacred to Pilgrims Missing in Floods in Nepal and Tibet
- Mount Kailash is a sacred peak in the Himalayas, significant to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon traditions.
- Each religious tradition associates the mountain with distinct beliefs and sacred stories.
- The mountain is believed to be the home of the Hindu god Shiva and the goddess Parvati.
- Massive floods along the Nepal-China border have led to hundreds of people being reported missing, including at least 178 from India, many of whom were believed to be on pilgrimage.
- Pilgrims typically walk around Kailash, completing a circuit of approximately 53 kilometers, which is thought to cleanse them of sins.
Mount Kailash is a sacred peak in the Himalayas, located in southwestern Tibet near the borders of China, Nepal, and India. It rises over 6,400 meters (21,000 feet) above sea level and is near Lake Manasarovar, both of which have long been part of religious and literary traditions. The mountain holds sacred significance for Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the Tibetan Bon tradition.
Each tradition links the mountain to different sacred beliefs and stories. According to the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, Mount Kailash is considered the home of Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, and Parvati, a goddess associated with marriage, fertility, and motherhood. Pilgrims travel to Kailash for purification, and the Indian government organizes official pilgrimages to Kailash and Manasarovar between June and September.
Recent massive floods along the Nepal-China border have resulted in hundreds of people reported missing, including over 1,000 individuals. Among the missing are at least 178 people from India, most of whom were believed to be on pilgrimage. Pilgrims typically walk around Kailash rather than climb it, completing a circuit that is thought to cleanse them of their sins.
关于神圣的凯拉什山，尼泊尔和西藏洪灾中失踪朝圣者的相关信息
凯拉什山是喜马拉雅山脉中的一座神圣山峰，位于西南部的西藏，靠近中国、尼泊尔和印度的边界。它的海拔超过6400米（21000英尺），并且靠近曼萨罗瓦湖，这两个地方长期以来一直是宗教和文学传统的一部分。这座山对印度教、佛教、耆那教和藏传苯教具有神圣意义。
每个传统都将这座山与不同的神圣信仰和故事联系在一起。根据国际综合山地发展中心的说法，凯拉什山被认为是湿婆神——印度教的毁灭之神和女神帕尔瓦蒂的家园。朝圣者前往凯拉什进行净化，印度政府在6月至9月之间组织前往凯拉什和曼萨罗瓦的官方朝圣活动。
最近，尼泊尔和中国边境发生的大规模洪灾导致数百人失踪，其中超过1000人被报告失踪。失踪者中至少有178名来自印度的人，大多数被认为正在朝圣。朝圣者通常绕着凯拉什山行走，而不是攀登它，完成一个被认为可以清洗他们罪孽的环绕。