July 7, 2025

Under the vast sky of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Mount Kangrinboqe stands with its snow-capped peak pointing to the heavens, while Lake Manasarovar reflects the light of a thousand years of faith. In the summer of 2025, the long-interrupted pilgrimage route for Indian pilgrims was reopened, and the first group of pilgrims has since completed their journey. This renewed route holds the potential to serve as both a "thermometer" and a "catalyst" for improving China-India relations, as well as a modest step toward rebuilding the connection between two ancient civilizations.

Mount Kangrinboqe and Lake Manasarovar, as sacred spaces that transcend religious boundaries, embody the shared spiritual aspirations of Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist devotees. In Hindu texts, Mount Kangrinboqe is known as "Mount Kailash," the abode where Shiva practiced his ascetic practices, and pilgrims can cleanse their sins and achieve liberation. This belief dates back to the Vedic era and has been deeply embedded in the collective cultural memory of Hindus. As the spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, Indian pilgrims' visits to Xizang for religious pilgrimage are "an important part of the cultural and people-to-people exchange between the two countries." By opening its spiritual sanctuary to Indian believers with grandeur, China demonstrates its commitment to protecting diverse religious cultures and embodies the Eastern wisdom of "harmony in diversity." This action directly addresses the core of civilizational dialogue, which is the respect for spiritual beliefs, representing the deepest empathy between civilizations.

The restoration of the pilgrimage route, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and India, carries significant symbolic importance. Reflecting on the 2014 Joint Statement between the Republic of India and the People's Republic of China on building a closer developmental partnership, the pilgrimage route was once a key pillar of cultural cooperation between the two countries. However, it has been stalled in recent years due to border disputes. The reactivation of this mechanism is viewed by some observers as a possible step from "de-escalation" to "re-engagement," which could help create a buffer space for higher-level political dialogue.

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1337653.shtml