Monks from China, not a part of the 1000km pilgrimage, pray for world peace at Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodhgaya on Monday. Picture by Suman

Around 1,000 monks, nuns and other devotees from India and abroad set off on a 1,000km pilgrimage from Bodhgaya to Lumbini on Monday morning.

Gyalwang Drukpa, head of the Drukpa Buddhists, is leading the journey that would touch Vaishali and Rajgir in Bihar and Kushinagar and Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh before reaching Lumbini in Nepal on November 22. Before setting off on the pilgrimage, prayers were held under the Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara on Sunday.

The pilgrimage began in Varanasi on November 15. After travelling to Varanasi and Sarnath, the group arrived in Bodhgaya on November 16.

Speaking on the pilgrimage, Gyalwang said the pilgrimage was aimed at promoting universal harmony and inner peace by integrating the spiritual tenets of love and appreciation into daily lives. Recognising the pilgrimage, the governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have accorded Gyalwang the status of state guest and the congregation participating in the pilgrimage will enjoy support of the state governments as they traverse from Varanasi to Lumbini.

Other works of Gyalwang include promoting gender equality, establishing educational institutions, medical clinics and meditation centres and rebuilding heritage sites in the Himalayas.

Gyalwang said: “The entire circuit, comprising various towns, that we will cover during the pilgrimage is extremely close to our hearts. It brings us mentally and spiritually close to the Buddha. The government support provided by Bihar and Uttar Pradesh is very encouraging and motivating, and will go a long way in making this entire pilgrimage a cherished one.”

The Drukpa lineage, based in the Himalayas, has followers in majority of Indian regions like Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, the Northeast and Nepal. Bhutan is an officially declared Drukpa country. It also has millions of followers in US, UK, France, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Switzerland and in Southeast Asia.

The lineage has been at the forefront of various noteworthy initiatives like peace foot march (padayatra) in Sri Lanka in collaboration and participation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, restoration of Asoka stupa in Nangchen, China, in July 2012, annual foot march since 2006 to promote environment awareness, the second Guinness World Records for most trees (99,103 in 55 minutes) planted in 2012, first Guinness World Records for most trees (55,033) planted in 2010, relief mission to Ladakh after flash floods in August 2010, relief mission to China’s Yushu region after the earthquake there in April 2010, Gyalwang said.