Tag: pad yatra

Leh accords grand reception to ‘Pad Yatra for World Peace’

Source: statetimes.in

TSEWANG RIGZIN
LEH: A number of religious and political organisations of Leh accorded a grand reception to Pad Yatra at Shey, as around 200 monks, nuns and laypersons from Thailand reached Leh after a strenuous month-long ‘Pad Yatra (peace march) for World Peace’ from Bodhgaya via Dharamsala to Ladakh on foot.

The delegates of Pad Yatra started their journey from Bodhgaya last month after offering prayers at sacred Mahabodhi temple. After having an audience with Dalai Lama in Dharamsala and seeking his blessings on 25th May, the Sangha members embarked on a month-long spiritual journey on foot towards Ladakh, crossing the high Himalayan terrain. The yatra was led by lord Abbot of Royal Thai Temple, Singburi province in Thailand, Phrateppariyattisuthi Thongsuk and was organised in collaboration with Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Leh. This was the 4th consecutive year of historic Dhamma Pad Yatra.

A number of leaders from different communities also took part in concluding part of Pad Yatra, for about 10 Km from Shey village to Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) Choglamsar, and prayed for world peace. President Ladakh Gonpa Association, Gelong Shatup Chamba; Skyabje Tokdan Rinpoche, Dy Chairman LAHDC Leh, President Municipal Committee Leh Dr Isehy Namgyal, Vice President Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) P T Kunzang, LBA Youth President Konchok Stag, LBA Women Wing President Rinchen Lamo, President Anjuman-Moin-Ul Islam Dr Abdul Qayom, President Anjuman Immamia Ashraf Ali Barcha, President Christian Association Dechen Chamgha, President District Congress Committee Tsering Namgyal, President Bar Association Leh Mohd Shafi Lasu, President All Ladakh Tour Operators Association Tsetan Angchok, Chief Patron Sindhu Darshan Yatra Samiti, Sr. RSS Pracharak Indresh Kumar and a number of people received the delegation of monks, nuns and laypersons on their arrival in Leh and also took part in the last leg of peace march.

Congratulating the delegates for a successful month-long Yatra for World Peace, founder-President MIMC, Bhikkhu Sanghasena expressed gratitude to all leaders from different communities of Leh for extending a warm welcome to the delegates from Thailand.

The Pad Yatra concluded at CIBS with inauguration of a three-day International Conference on ‘World Peace’, ‘150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’, and ‘Preservation of Cultural Heritage of Himalayas’ in Acharya Nagarjuna Auditorium of CIBS. The conference is being organised by MIMC in collaboration with Save the Himalayas Foundation, New Delhi; Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda; Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh and Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Leh.

Peace Walk in the Himalayas to strengthen Indo-Thai ties

Source: punjabnewsexpress.com

CHANDIGARH: The pad yatra of 200 Thai monks and nuns, which began on 25th May from Dharamshala, will conclude at Leh on 26th June. Purpose of this 4th annual pad yatra is to spread the message of world peace and protection of Himalayan environment. The peace walk has already covered more than half way walking through the Manali, Rohtang Pass, Sarchu route. The walk is expected to enhance the India and Thailand relations.

Ven. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, President, Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC) Leh (Ladakh) said, “We wholeheartedly welcome each and everyone for the 4th Pad Yatra for ‘World Peace and 3-Day International Conference on World Peace, 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas’. The conference will be on June 26 – 28.”

Narviay Yadav, General Secretary, Save the Himalayas Foundation (SHF) Chandigarh Chapter, said, “People from India may join the Peace Walk in the last leg of the yatra at Leh. SHF is an initiative to preserve the true grace of Himalayas and protect the eco system.  The SHF was founded by Ven Sanghasena in 2016 to restore the lost grace and grandeur of the Himalayan region and to protect the land, nature, cultures and values that form this glorious part of Earth.”

The pad yatra, a walking pilgrimage, began from Bodh Gaya and via Dharamshala, it entered the Ladakh region, where it will conclude at MIMC Leh. The yatras conducted so far have played a key role in enhancing the diplomatic and religious ties between Thailand and India and this year as the number of participants is higher, it will further lead to mutual prosperity, happiness and triumph for both the nations, which have always played a vital role in promoting peace and harmony in the region.