Background-India is the 2nd biggest country in Asia. It has diverse religion, culture, cast, and climate etc. There are many disputes due to religion and cast. As you know there are conflict of border problem between India and Pakistan. Due to this problem people are killing each other. You can see same problem in Nepal and Bangladesh as well.
Once a year we hold Peace March project to make people be aware of this situation. YBS is trying to create harmony and friendship with each other even though they are Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim or Christian. When national and international government cannot stop the violence and conflict, it is time for youths of the world to take action and put an end to one of the longest conflicts. This humanistic and peaceful march will give an opportunity to the participants from various countries to be involved directly or indirectly in global issues
Project - Every year, since 2005 under the cooperation between YBS and IWO, “Universal Peace March (UPM)” has been held in different parts of India. We will promote peace by sharing our ideas about global issues with youths from all over the world. Within 11 days we will stay in different places and have meetings with different religion, cast and rural village people.
We will share how to make peace to each other, how to be in peace between young people and how to be aware and recover the humanity. In 2009, Foreign and Indian participants will march from Lumbini, Nepal to Sharavasti, India by walking. Local hosting condition will be inconvenient sometimes but it will be a good opportunity to challenge you
Organized by
1-Youth Buddhist Society (YBS) India
2-International workcamp organization (IWO) Korea
Transition Distance- From Lumbini (Nepal) to Sharavasti (India), about 300km
Lumbini-Lumbini is the place where the Buddha, known as the Tathagata [One who has found the Truth] was born. It is the place which should be visited and seen by a person of devotion and which should cause awareness and apprehension of the nature of impermanence.
Shravasti - Sharavasti is one of the eight most important pilgrimages of Buddhists. While Lord Buddha walked from Kapilavastu Nepal to Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, renounced the world and attained Mahaparinirvana, he left behind a trail of footsteps which are revered till today. Situated 134 kms from Lucknow and 29 kms from Balrampur, Sravasti, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honor for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens.
Sharavasti is one such place. According to legend, it is here where Buddha confounded his critics by making them witness a miraculous million-fold self manifestation seated on a thousand-petalled lotus, as fire and water emanated from his body. The prophet of peace is also said to have spent 25th rainy seasons here, teaching people the essence of his gentle creed.
The religious character of Sharavasti derives also from the fact that Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, visited the town frequently. Apart from this, the city also finds mention in the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata as a prosperous city of the Kosala Kingdom. The mythological king Sharavasti is said to have founded it.
Language- English will be used as the official language during the program
Participation fee- 170 Euro ( Pay on arrival, Accommodation, food will be covered. )
Accommodation and food- Participants will stay in local accommodation. We have no special accommodation on the way of the march. Accommodation will be schools, village community centers, temples (Hindu, Buddhist, Islam, Christian, Sikh, Jaina etc). Participants should not expect convenient facilities like those in their countries such as hot water, good toilet, beds, etc.
During 11 days-peaceful journey, participants will have local vegetarian food for their meals.
Participants can cook vegetarian food in their own style and share. Peace march is not a picnic
or race but a spiritual journey to make positive mentality of youth and peaceful for future. It will
be a time to understand the diverse value of life.
* Non-vegetable food and alcohol is not allowed during the march.
Daily target- We will have approximately 30 km - journey in a day. Participants will walk 15-20 km in a day and take a public transportation for the rest of the distance.
Daily schedule- (#Daily schedule can be flexible according to the local situation )
6:00 - 7:00 Yoga & morning gathering
7:00 - 8:00 Breakfast
8:00 - 8:30 Start the march
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch (on the way)
18:00 - 19:00 Dinner (at the destination of each day)
20:00 - 21:30 Culture exchange program & meeting
Insurance- Insurance will not be provided. Therefore participants should bring an overseas insurance from their countries
Meeting Point – there will be two meeting point
First Meeting point is India - in front of new Delhi railway station (Paharganj side), 5 :00 pm , 26 jan 2009 it will take 12 hours from Delhi to Gorakhapur. From Gorakhapur to lumbini by bus or texi, it will take up to Sunauli border. Foreigners have to take entry visa and than from Sunauli border to Lumbini Korean Buddhist temple 2 hours by taxi.
Second Meeting Point is Nepal - 28 jan 2009, 10:00 am Korean Buddhist temple Lumbini (Nepal) there is a overnight journey from Kathmandu (Nepal) to Lumbini. If some one wants to come early in Lumbini. Lumbini is a place there is many Buddhist monastery and guesthouse and hotels.
Note - train reservation – some one want journey from Delhi (India) to Gorakhapur. Please contact 30 days before otherwise seat will be not available in the train. It is not final please check it and feel free to change and suggest.
Contact. Suresh Chandra Bauddha
email. ybsindia@ybsindia.org
Mobile Phone. 0091 9937393526