The pilgrimage to Adi Kailash and Om Parvat has officially begun in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, with the first batch of over 350 devotees departing from Dharchula. Sub-divisional Magistrate Ashish Joshi flagged off the convoy, noting that the administration received more than 500 applications for Inner Line Permits, with 350 permits issued so far. The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency for the yatra, is set to launch its organized tour packages starting May 7. Joshi emphasized the importance of caution due to rapidly changing weather conditions in this high-altitude Himalayan region. The Lord Shiva temple in Jolingkong opened its portals at 10:30 am on Friday following religious rituals conducted by the local “Rung” community. This pilgrimage has been taking place annually since 1981, alongside the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet.