Razen Manandhar
Kathmandu, November 10[2005]:
Thirty pilgrims will embark on a 500-km march — from the Namobuddha in Kavre to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha — for world peace tomorrow morning.
“The team will begin their journey from Namobuddha hill on Friday and will finally pray for world peace at the sacred garden of Lumbini after walking for 25 days,” Dr Lam Ty Ni, the coordinator of the pilgrims’ team, told The Himalayan Times today.
Sixty-year-old Dr Lam, also known as Ven Huyen Deieu, came to Lumbini in 1969, in search of peace from war-torn Vietnam and started working for the development of the holy shrine.
The team includes 10 Vietnamese, three Indians, one Japanese, a Korean and 15 Nepalis. The eldest member of the team is 62-year-old monk Lama Karma Lhundrub, while 17-year-old nun Ven Susiloti is the youngest in the lot.
The pilgrimage will pass through Banepa, Patan, Bouddha and Swoyambhu before leaving the valley from Balambhu and Naubishe on November 15. After crossing Baireni, Richoktar, Kirutar, Abukhaireni, Dumre, Damauli and Dulegauda on foot the team will reach Pokhara on November 23.
Worshipping at Peace Pagoda on November 24, the pilgrims will pass through Phedikoda, Rangkhola, Waling, Galyang Bhanjyang Malumga, Arya Bhanjyang, Tansen, Kerabari, Butwal, Bhairahawa and arrive at Lumbini on December 4.
The team will take shelter mainly in Buddhist vihars and public schools.
Dr Lam said the pilgrimage has a spiritual as well as a symbolic meaning. He claimed that the prayer would lead to an atmosphere for peace and hoped that after seeing young and old people walking for peace, the authorities will feel the necessity to do something for the peace.
According to him, all the concerned parties - the political parties, the king and the Maoists should sit together for resolving the decade-long war and let people live in peace and happiness.
He said war and peace are in people’s mind and arousing conscience and compassion helps people replace war with peace.
Ratnaman Skahya, a team facilitator and president of International Buddhist Meditation Centre, said two vehicles will follow the pilgrims for emergency support.
