- Title: INDIA: Buddhists complete a 400 kilometre pilgrimage in the Himalayan mountains
- Date: 5th July 2009
- Summary: MONKS PLAYING CONCH TO WELCOME PILGRIMS MONK PLAYING CONCH MONKS PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NUNS SINGING AND WALKING PILGRIMS IN WALKING
- Embargoed: 20th July 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVAC1FAQ517FOAHCOM4QF53ZLY4
- Story Text: Hundreds of Buddhist monks completed an arduous 400 kilometre journey through Himalayan mountian passes, from Manali in Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh in Indian Jammu and Kashmir.
They crossed five Himalayan mountain passes during the journey, at altitudes of up to 5,200 metres above sea level.
The pilgrims were greeted in an official ceremony by monks from the Hemis monastery.
Monk Tshering Phuntok said he enjoyed the gruelling journey, which began on May 23rd.
"It was very difficult but we enjoyed it. Sometimes we had to climb up to 5000 metres above the sea level and sometimes 3000 metres…. We had a hard time but we enjoyed very much with His Holiness, the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa," he said.
The pilgrimage was led by the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa Rinoche, who wanted to educate people along the way on the environment, education and healthcare.
"His Holiness educated people about the harmful effects of polythene and at the same time he also taught them the importance of modern education," said Buddhist scholar Tshering Norbu.
The group visited holy sites along the way. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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