On the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, a grand peace walk will be held from the historic and archaeological town of Panauti to the historic and touristic site Namo Buddha. The peace walk is being organized by Kavre Sewa Samaj on Baisakh 29 (Nepali calendar).
During a press conference held in Banepa, organizers shared that the walk aims to promote peace and harmony, support both domestic and international tourism, and help preserve and promote local art and culture.
According to the organization’s president Purushottam Nepal, the peace walk will start from Maneshwari in Panauti and pass through Sunthan, Inte, Shankhu, Shankheshwari, and forest trails, ending at Namo Buddha. The total walking distance is 9.5 kilometers.
The event aims to bring together around 1,000 participants, including representatives from various organizations, government bodies, businesses, civil society, legal and media sectors. Organizers believe that the peace walk will help promote the natural beauty and rich cultural, historical, and religious heritage of Kavrepalanchok district to the world.
The society previously organized a World Peace Walk along the same route on Ashoj 6, 2080 (Nepali calendar). Namo Buddha is believed to be the sacred site where Prince Mahasattva, in one of Lord Buddha’s previous lives, sacrificed his body to save a starving tigress and her cubs. After being reborn in Lumbini as Siddhartha Gautama, he later returned to this place of self-sacrifice, which came to be known as “Namo Buddhaya Namah”, hence the name Namo Buddha.
According to legend, a stupa was built over the remains of the prince, and now the area features a large monastery, temples, stupas, and a Buddhist school. From Namo Buddha reachable via a hike through the Shankhu Valley or from the tourist town of Dhulikhel visitors can also enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayan range.
