A sea of devotees complete parikrama at the rooftop of the world

For 68-year-olds Jayanthi Gopinath and Rajshri Sheshnag, the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is a dream come true. The Bengaluru-based twins had prepared for this day for months in advance, walking six kilometres everyday with a backpack weighing five kilograms. Their children also made sure that they regularly practised pranayama. “We kept giving them a pep talk all the time, telling them they can do it,” said Punitha, Jayanthi’s daughter. Punitha’s mother-in-law Lalithamma is the oldest member in the group. She is 69, and ecstatic that she is able to visit Mount Kailash at an advanced age. This week, not just the twins, but their children, nephew and the children’s spouses also accompanied them for one of the most important, arduous and challenging religious pilgrimages for the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Due to high altitude, rugged and harsh terrain and unpredictable weather, the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is a test of the physical, mental and emotional strength of the devotees.