Kamal Ghorui
Itanagar: A 25-member team of the Galo Welfare Society (GWS), including three women, on Wednesday embarked on a five-day expedition to Topo Gone, a pilgrimage site of the Galo community in Arunachal Pradesh’s Shi Yomi district.The expedition, scheduled from Jan 28 to Feb 1, is being organised by the Indian Army in collaboration with the GWS. Brigadier Ritesh Katoch flagged off the team from the Aalo military station in West Siang district. He said the initiative is a landmark collaboration aimed at preserving the community’s indigenous cultural heritage.Before the flag-off, Brigadier Katoch briefed the pilgrims on meteorological conditions, health assessments, and safety measures required for navigating the remote and challenging terrain.The Indian Army is committed to ensuring the pilgrimage is conducted with the highest standards of safety, dignity, and logistical precision, he said, expressing hope that the event would further strengthen the bond between the armed forces and citizens.The expedition follows a series of consultations between the GWS and the Army. On Dec 22 last year, the GWS underscored the historical significance of Topo Gone, describing it as a vital ancestral landmark symbolising the resilience and heritage of the Galo people.Highlighting its religious and cultural importance, the GWS said the pilgrimage seeks to reconnect the community with a spiritual meridian that has remained geographically difficult to access for generations.The pilgrims will begin their journey from Manigong to the Henkar pilgrimage hut on Thursday, proceed to Topo Gone on Jan 30, return to Manigong on Jan 31, and conclude at Aalo on Feb 1.Topo Gone, a 2,900-metre peak along the McMahon Line, features prominently in the folklore and oral traditions of both the Bokar and Galo communities.
