-
ALSO READ
Madhesis say Nepal trying to defame India
Nepal prevents vehicles entering India on fuel smuggling suspicion
Madhesi parties say will continue Nepal-India border blockade
Madhesi agitators continue with Nepal-India border sit-in protest over flawed Constitution
Madhesi protesters 'lathicharged' at India-Nepal border
-
More than 250 'Kung Fu nuns', led by the Gyalwang Drukpa, spiritual head of the 1,000-year-old Drukpa Order based in the Himalayas, have commenced a cycle expedition that entered India to create awareness on women empowerment and environment consciousness, a statement said on Friday.
The expedition that started from Kathmandu in Nepal entered India from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
'Kung Fu nuns' are Buddhist nuns who grow up learning the martial art. They belong to Druk Amitabha Mountain nunnery based in the hills overlooking Kathmandu.
"The cycle yatra or expedition points to the independent and collective will power of women and their equivalence with men; the use of a vehicle that is environment friendly sends a strong message of conservation and environment friendliness," a statement quoting Gyalwang Drukpa, the founder of 'Live to Love' global humanitarian initiative, said.
He said the relationship between Nepal and India was symbiotic.
"It's an age-old historical, cultural and religious relationship and our monasteries in both countries operate seamlessly to provide spiritual guidance to our followers. It's a natural route for us to travel from Nepal to India and vice versa."
The cycle expedition will cover over 2,200 km from Kathmandu passing through the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar via Gorakhpur, Gaya, Patna, Rajgir, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur and Agra before culminating in Delhi on January 9, 2016.
The Drukpa Order that originates from the Himalayan region of Ladakh in Jammu Kashmir has built a strong history of community action and citizen empowerment for many years.
Gyalwang Drukpa was honoured by the United Nations with the Millennium Development Goals Award in September 2010 for promoting environmental education and gender equality.
Dear Reader,
Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.
We, however, have a request.
As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.
Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.
Digital Editor
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU