Chitwan: A group of 25 Buddhist monks from Thailand, currently on a peace pilgrimage, have set out towards Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
The monks reached Maha Bouddha Monastery in Tinkhole of Bharatpur at 4:45 PM on Sunday after completing 52 days of travel from Thailand. They departed Monday morning for Lumbini via Pulchowk in Narayangadh and along the Gaindakot route, marking the 53rd day of their journey.
The Buddhist Dharma Service Committee at Tinkhole welcomed the monks upon their arrival and hosted them overnight at the monastery. Committee Chairperson Dal Bahadur Gurung formally bid them farewell on Monday morning.
According to Gurung, the monks travelled from Thailand through Assam and Tripura in India before entering Nepal on their way to Lumbini. Well-wishers greeted them at Gondrang in Bharatpur, Chitwan, and supporters accompanied them on foot to the monastery and later escorted them to Pulchowk.
The pilgrimage, carrying the slogan “Dhamma Yattra for Peace: To Lumbini, the Birthplace of Gautam Buddha,” is being coordinated by monk Medhang Karesath Sthavir. He said the Nepal-bound team is one of five groups currently undertaking a global peace pilgrimage.
The monks embarked on the nearly 5,000-km journey with prayers for peace, aiming to help curb violence, killings, and criminal activities around the world. Sthavir said the monks have been enduring an arduous journey for many days for the welfare of all living beings and expressed confidence that the pilgrimage would spread the message of peace, non-violence and moral living.
After entering Nepal, the group reached Chitwan on the seventh day and plans to walk a total of 319 kilometers within the country before arriving in Lumbini. Their journey in Nepal will continue until February 22, marking 15 days since their entry. Along the route, they are coordinating with monasteries and Buddhist stupas for rest and community interactions.
The monks are walking approximately 35 kilometers per day as they continue their spiritual mission.
(RSS)
