October 3

We started from Uttarakashi to Nachitekan’s Lake and Nachitekan’s cave. The guardian Sadhu of the lake received us and showed us the way to the cave.

According to Indian mythology Nachitekan went there to the underworld and had to wait for three days until Yama, the God of death, received him and offered him three wishes.

October 5

The main ashram in Gangotri, Ishavasya Ashrama, gave the World Harmony Run an enthusiastic welcome. The Sadhus sang a few songs for peace in Sanskrit and blessed the torch with a prayer.

These monks live at an altitude of 3000 m in the last settlement before the Ganges source on 3900 m.

October 6 and 7

Along the Ganges, on our way to the Ganges source we met a few sadhus, who blessed us with their prayers.

Finally we reached the holy source of the Ganges at about 4000 m above the sea level. A small glacier, only a few kilometres long, provides the source of the Ganges . This place is called Gaumukh, and remarkably, the end of the glacier has the shape of a cow’s mouth.

Not all of our group made it on to Tapovan, which was our final destination, a plateau with a beautiful meadow and with a breathtaking view of mountains.

A mauni (silent) sadhu received the torch and served us some food and chai (indian spiced tea).

It was a magnificent feeling to be on 4240 m above the sea level amongst the Himalayas and to feel the silence of nature.

The World Harmony Run proudly supports the International Year of Youth (IYY) and the International Year of Forests (IYF) proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

See the recent Youtube video on African experience which illustrates IYY slogan "Our Year Our Voice"  International Year of Youth - Zambia World Harmony. They surprisingly mention Presidents and UN Secretary-General in a unique way! 

See also the UNESCO World Heritage (WH) Centre support for IY of Forests.  ... Convention for conservation of forest biodiversity. (more)

Listen to the World-Harmony-Run song: 2 min version // 6 min 

See also:  Music Scores;  Arrangements;   Song in Non-English Languages;  Schools Arrangements and Performances

– Smarana Puntigam

Gallery: See more images!