ITANAGAR, 29 Jan: A 25-member Galo Welfare Society (GWS) team, including three women, on Wednesday began a five-day expedition to the holy Topo Gone, a pilgrimage site of the Galo community, in Shi-Yomi district.
Topo Gone is a 2,900-metre peak along the McMahon Line, and it finds mention in the folklore and folktales of the community.
The expedition, from 28 January to 1 February, is being organised by the Indian Army, in collaboration with the GWS.
Brigadier Ritesh Katoch flagged off the expedition from Aalo military station in West Siang district this morning.
The official said the expedition is a landmark collaboration in preserving the community’s indigenous cultural fabric.
Before the flag-off, Brigadier Katoch briefed the pilgrims on the expedition, including meteorological parameters and health assessments of the participants.
The Indian Army is committed to ensuring that the pilgrimage is conducted with the highest standards of safety, dignity, and logistical precision, the official said.
He exuded hope that the event would help strengthen the enduring bond between the armed forces and civilians.
The expedition is a result of a series of meetings between the GWS and the Indian Army.
The pilgrims will reach the Henkar pilgrimage hut on Thursday and leave for Topo Gone on 30 January. They will return to Manigong on 31 January and leave for Aalo on 1 February. (PTI)
