Scanty snowfall affects Om Parbat

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 6

Scanty snowfall in the high Himalayan region this year has started affecting sources and basins of Himalayan rivers, besides religious places such as Om Parvat in the Joligkong Himalayan range westward of Gunji in Dharchula subdivision of the district. Om Parvat is revered as the natural place of Lord Shiva after Mount Kailash.

“If snow doesn’t fall till March, the natural erection of Om Parvat where the sign of Om considered to be related with Lord Shiva will deplete. this will disappoint pilgrims who come on the Chhota Kailash pilgrimage only to have a glimpse of Om Parvat,” says Krishna Garbiyal, a resident of Garbiyang village near Om Parvat.

Garbiyal says Om Parvat became popular after the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) officially started the Chhota Kailash yatra in 2004. “ Most of the pilgrims visit Chhota Kailash or Jolingkong mountain only to have a glimpse of the Om letter in Hindi erected naturally on a mountain near it. The sign is visible clearly only when heavy snowfall occurs, giving complete satisfaction to pilgrims,” he adds.

According to locals, a similar situation prevailed in 2008 and 2011 when due to less snowfall, the Om sign was barely visible. “We hope the deficit in snowfall during the winter will be made good in March and April and Om Parvat will be clearly visible,” says Shakuntala Datal, a social worker in Dharchula town.