Tibetan Buddhists consider Tsari sacred, in the same league with
Mount Kailash. Dakpa Sheri is regarded so sacred that its circumambulation is believed to derive as much merit as the circumambulation of
Mount Kailas. The
circumambulation of the Dakpa Sheri (Takpa Siri or Tsari) is of two types: the Tsari Ningkor () and the Tsari Ringkor. Tsari Ningkor is annual while the longer Tsari Ringkor (also called the Rongkor Chenmo) is twelve yearly. The Dakpa Sheri mountain attracts annual pilgrims who circle it over 3 days, passing through seven steep mountain passes. In addition, there is a larger pilgrimage that takes place once every 12 years that goes through the tribal territory of Assam Himalaya. It goes down to the confluence with the
Subansiri river (Chayul Chu river). Then it follows Chayul Chu upstream and later
Yume Chu, to return to the starting point at
Chösam. The last Ringkor was in 1956. The next one due in 1968 as well as successive pilgrimages have not occurred due to border tensions between China and India. The pilgrimage is sometimes done along with a visit to the Tso Karpo or the Tsari Sarpa. These are respectively called the Tsari Nyingpa () and the Tsari Sarpa (). Before Tibet was annexed by China, the
Migyitun (presently administered by China) town use to play a central role in the longer 12 year-pilgrimage. Tibetan officials and pilgrims numbering about 20,000 assembled in the town to make arrangements for the pilgrimage. In order to induce the Assam Himalayan tribes (
Tagin tribe) to allow unmolested passage to the pilgrims, the Tibetan government use to give lavish presents to them. The border between Tibet and tribal territory was at the Mandala Plain just outside the town of Migyitun. There was a crossing on the river from its left bank to the right bank near Longju, which was needed to enter the Tagir tribal territory from the Tibetan. When
Bailey and
Morshead visited the area in 1905, they found the bridge broken. The Tibetans were unable to repair it because it was built using the tribal materials and techniques. Evidently the Tibetan authority stopped at Migyitun. == Notes ==