Pilgrims at Mount Kailash and Manasarovar

The Tibetan term for pilgrimage is Nas Kor. The word "Nas" means dwelling and "Kor" means "visit" or "encircle". One of the main reasons pilgrims visit Mount Kailash and Manasarovar is to build a connection with the sacred place. The pilgrims perform their spiritual practices according to their religion. A common practice of Buddhist and Bon pilgrims is to walk the 52 kilometers around the sacred Mount Kailash and the holy Manasarovar Lake. This walk is known as the “Kora” in Tibetan. Pilgrims believe that a genuine practitioner is able to wash away all the negative deeds of a lifetime by walking once around the sacred mountain and the lake. Twelve Koras is understood as a set (Tib. Kor Tsed Cheg). The 13th Kora traditionally takes the "inner route" (Tib. Khagro Samglam). Nine sets of Koras add up to 108 koras. It is believed that nine sets can secure Nirvana in a lifetime.

Externally Bon and Buddhist practitioners look exactly the same. The one obvious difference between the two faiths is that Bon pilgrims walk counter clockwise whereas Buddhist pilgrims walk clockwise. They both walk withspinning prayer wheels while counting rosaries.

In the Buddhist world, physical gesture, verbal recitations, and mental concentrations are used simultaneously to establish spiritual understanding and realization. For example, walking around the sacred Mount Kailash, isn't just a walk. Pilgrims use their physical hardship to remind themselves what brought them to walk the sacred mountain. The pilgrims verbally recite prayers, so they can hear themselves and feel it. They mentally concentrate on their prayers and the reason why they are walking.

Every year, there are hundreds of pilgrims who do full body length prostration (Tib. Kyang Cheg) around the sacred Mount Kailash and the holy Manasarovar Lake. Prostration is one of the many practices of Tibetan Buddhism. Prostration is a way of expressing one’s respect to the spiritual superior beings. "Cheg" is the Tibetan term for prostration. In general, there are two ways to do a prostration. "Kyang Cheg" means full body length prostration on the ground. "Kyum Cheng" means bounded body prostration on the ground. Before lying on the ground, the two hands must fold together as if they are sandwiching something. Then, the hands are placed on the crown of the head, which symbolize body. Secondly, the hands are placed by the mouth, which symbolizes speech. Finally, the hands are placed at the center of the heart, which symbolizes mind. All three together symbolize showing respect physically, verbally and mentally.

Hindu practitioners take cold baths as part of their ritual. Every year there are many groups of Hindu pilgrims who visit from India and Nepal. They also walk around Kailash and Manasarovar, and among Hindu practitioners some raise one of their hands in the air as a sign of offering or practice. A few Hindu Sadus come to die at the sacred the site, and some even cut off a finger to make an offering.