108 Buddhist pilgrims from South Korea to walk 1,100 kms in India and Nepal over 43 days

In a unique pilgrimage, a group of 108 Buddhist monks from South Korea will walk over 1,100 kilometres from February 9 to March 23 — over a period of 43 days — tracing the Buddha’s footsteps and life journey in India.

The tourists will visit Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in India and subsequently move to Nepal.

The pilgrimage, which comes as India and South Korea mark 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations, aims to increase friendship and collaboration between the two countries, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra said on Monday.

The walking pilgrimage will begin from Sarnath in Varanasi and will culminate at Shravasti after traversing through Nepal. The programme is being hosted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

With the slogan ‘Oh, We! Oh Love! Oh, Life!‘, the pilgrimage, organized by Sangwol Society, aims to spread Buddhist culture of devotional activities through a through a pilgrimage to India where the life and footsteps of the Buddha are preserved.

According to the South Korean Ambassador to India Chang Jae-bok , the pilgrims which include monks will:

* Pay homage to eight major Buddhist holy sites;

* Experience Indian Buddhism and culture, and have a bilateral meeting of religious leaders;

* Hold a prayer assembly for world peace and a blessing ceremony for the dignity of life.

The Republic of Korea's Ambassador to India to India also said that the year 2023 is special for the bilateral relation between the countries as the two celebrate this historic milestone of 50 years of diplomatic relations. This occasion coincides with India’s G20 Presidency and South Korea is committed to India’s success at G20, he added.

The Ambassador remarked that Buddhist teachings are similar to the motto of India’s G20 presidency ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.