BHUBANESWAR: More than 200 devotes and members of Drukpa lineage, an international Buddhist group, gathered in the city for the Eco Pad Yatra of five Buddhist sites Wednesday.
The event was flagged off by Ashok Chandra Panda, Tourism and Culture Minister of Odisha, from the State Odisha Bharat Scouts & Guide Campus.
The purpose of this journey was raising awareness on environmental preservation and women empowerment. This is the 16th edition of the Pad yatra, which was led by the Gyalwang Drukpa and His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche. More than 100 monks and nuns of the Drukpa lineage and 200 devotees from across the world form the group. They are undertaking a 140 km foot journey in Odisha to raise awareness on environmental preservation.
In the eight-day long Pad Yatra they will travel multiple Buddhist sites, including Udayagiri, Dhauli, Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri.
On the occasion Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche said, “Due to our modern lifestyles, we have totally forgotten the ways of ancient times. Mother Nature holds important lessons for us. Our Pad Yatra aims to remind people of both these important aspects and teachings of Buddha. We look forward to motivating people along our walking journey as walking on earth helps us build a relationship with the nature and also connect with people on ground. We would attempt to inspire them to take care of their environment and spread awareness of the same among others. We would also visit various Buddhist heritage sites of Odisha.”
He also said that during the last year visit of Kung Fu Nun cyclists, they had a discussion with the state government where they discussed the feasibility of such a Pad Yatra in the state.
Minsiter Ashok Chandra Panda said, “In the last two to three decades, hundreds of Buddhist sites were explored and many of them excavated in Odisha. These sites were constructed in periods ranging from 3rd century BC to 14th century AD. These destinations have transformed the tourism potential of the state. It is clearly manifested in huge Buddhist settlement sites like Dhauli, Lalitgiri, Udayagiri, Ratnagiri, Langudi and Aragarh among others. It presents scenic landscapes, serene monumental remains (Stupas, Chaityas, Monasteries) and sublime metaphors (Buddha and Boddisattavs), which exemplifies the cultural history of Odisha. These imposing Buddhist heritage resources need to be promoted in the international market for growth of tourism.
During the course of the Eco Pad Yatra, the participants and devotees will offer daily prayers for peace and compassion, perform large-scale cleanings of the terrain along its route, and will campaign amongst the local citizens about the importance of preserving nature and its sustainability. The event will also promote awareness about the Buddhist heritage sites of Odisha, where cultural relics and monastic structures have been preserved for hundreds of years. The event will conclude October 31 in Ratnagiri.