Buddha Walks
- Jethian To Jivaka Amaravana
- Jethian Valley
- Jethian to Rajgir
- Jetthian Valley to Mango Grove
Walking in The Footsteps of the Buddha- Jethian To Jivaka Amaravana, Rajgir – December 13th 2015
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First Dharmayatra walk through the Jethian Valley to Rajgir, December 13th 2014
1000 participants from thirteen countries walked together the 14 kilometers from the entrance of the Jethian valley to the Veluvan (Bamboo Grove) pleasure park in Rajgir. The event began at 11am with an opening ceremony in the presence of local officials with speeches given by respected Venerables, Dr Panth Ravindra of Nalanda Mahavihara, Shree Nangze Dorjee, Honorale Secretary of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, Wangmo Dixey of LBDFI and other local officials in Bihar.
The Assembly then walked the ancient pathway, stopping every kilometer to bless and inaugurate 16 nine foot stupas that were gifted to the people of Jethian by LBDFI as waymarkers. Each country blessed a stupa as they walked along the way.
Nalanda Mahavihara in collaboration with the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee and the Department of Art, Culture and Youth Government of Bihar provided facilities for the opening and closing ceremonies, police protection and refreshments for all participants. LBDFI also sponsored the planting of several hundred bamboos at the Veluvan site.
The first Dharmayatra walk begins a series of annual processions that will initiate the program ‘Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha’, a series of walking paths retracing the ancient pathways in Bihar and UP trodden by the Blessed One. Each year, on December 13th, a new section will be opened in this manner.