People's representatives and leaders of Bajhang have reached the Chinese Embassy to ask for an explanation of the ban imposed by the Chinese government on the entry of the Mansarovar Lake area in Tibet to the residents of Bajhang.

They submitted a memorandum to the Ambassador of China to Nepal, Chen Song, and requested him to facilitate the pilgrimage, which has been going on since tradition.

Bhanu Bhakta Joshi, member of the House of Representatives of Bajhang who is also a former minister in the coordination of Nepal-China Himalaya friendly society, former state minister Asha Vick, Constituent Assembly members Afilal Okheda, Chandra Joshi, Dharmaraj Vick, State Assembly member Daman Bhandari, Nepal-China A team of leaders working in different areas of Bajhang, including the president of the Himalaya Maitri Samaj, Dilli Aryal, submitted the memorandum to the ambassador.

In the year 2076, citing the Corona virus, the Chinese government closed the entry point to Tibet through Urai Bhanjiang in Bajhang. Although the entry was opened in May last year, pilgrims going to Mansarovar are still barred. Due to not being able to bring water from Mansarovar, the worship of most of the temples in Bajhang has been stopped for eight years. Not only this, due to lack of Mansarovar water, the work of placing new dhami in temples has also been stopped. According to the local culture, after shaking the new Dhami, it is customary to reach Mansarovar Kailash and bring the water from there to the temple and offer it to Pat Bas (officially recognized as Dhami). In some temples, the annual puja starts only after offering water from Mansarovar. Due to not being able to bring water, the annual puja has also been affected. Dhamis of various monasteries and temples of Bajhang, local people, municipality, state and federal representatives have been taking initiatives saying that this culture has been blocked since the

tradition and they should take initiative to open it up. They said that they had to meet the Chinese ambassador because they had repeatedly brought this problem to the attention of the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, etc., but there was no initiative.

"We have requested in writing and verbally with the ambassador that this tradition that has been going on for centuries should be resumed," Constituent Assembly member Afilal Okheda said, "When the entry to Mansarovar is blocked, the legendary Bajhang and Tibet We have also drawn his attention to the relationship, the impact on the religious and cultural beliefs of Bajhang.' The Secretary General of Nepal China Himalaya Friendly Society Rinan Pokharel informed that the Chinese government has been requested through the ambassador to cooperate in strengthening the cultural, religious and trade relations between Tibet and Bajhang. 

Ambassador Song responded positively to Bajhang's demand, he said. "The ambassador has taken seriously the issue of interruption of the Mansarovar pilgrimage and expressed his commitment to coordinate with the authorities of Purang County to resume it," Pokharel said while informing about the conversation with the ambassador. Stating that China has a close relationship with the border districts, he said that China is willing to cooperate in the field of development and construction if the Nepalese government makes a formal request. Pokharel said that he hopes to achieve some achievements this year itself.

Based on the rumor that the border crossing was opened, Chinese security personnel sent back more than 35 Bajhang residents who had walked for eight days to get water from Mansarovar in July and August last year. They were also asked to delete the photos and videos they had taken on their mobile phones. After not being able to enter Mansarovar, they returned to Bajhang on foot, crossing the high Himalayan plateau empty-handed.

Mansarovar water is mandatory for worshiping gods in Masto culture once a year. After the deity incarnates in the dhamis of most of the gods and goddesses, they are considered to be real dhamis only after bathing in Mansarovar and visiting Kailash. Even after Dhami, there is a mandatory rule that one should take a bath in Mansarovar and circumambulate Kailash every two or three years.

'Bajhang's Urai Bhanjyang should be followed on foot from Taklakot following the path followed by Longa Devta (a deity associated with Masto culture) and stay at Gauriodhar. There is a rule that you have to bathe in Mansarovar and fetch water and return to Gouriodhar only after staying and worshiping," says former DIG Shyam Khadka, who is also the author of the book "Mashto Culture and Traditions". After that, the religious activities of the entire district have been disrupted. He said that it was sad that the government did not take any initiative for eight years regarding the interruption of the social, cultural and religious activities of the entire district which have been going on for centuries.