Thousands participate in Dipankha yatra

Thousands of devotees will walk more than 65 kms on Friday following the route of Dipankha yatra.

The 900-year-old tradition takes devotees in a religious trek to 131 temples and stupas around Kathmandu valley. It has its roots in the legends of Shakya Muni Buddha who was once born as a blue-horned ox. It is not an annual festival but is celebrated only if five auspicious astronomical and astrological features coincide on one day according to the lunar calendar.

The procession begins in Nagbahal and ends at Mahalaxmisthan in Patan.

“I am stationed at Chobar and already more than 50,000 people have passed through,” Bikash Ratna Dhakhwa, secretary-general of Dipankha Yatra Organising Committee, told nepalnews.com. “The walk began at 2 in the morning today and will end in about 28 hours.”

The committee is providing drinking water, first aid and toilet facilities at 43 points along the route. Other organisations have also set up stalls at spots along the road, providing resting spots and beverages.

This year, the committee has also launched an android app “BlueHorn”. The application has a map of the walk, a list of destinations and news updates. It also allows you to share your updates on Facebook.

“There are people of all ages participating in the walk,” says Prajwal Dhakhwa who began his walk at 2 this morning and had reached Swayambhu. “The environment is very festive.”

The procession is a sign of religious harmony as both Hindu and Buddhist spots are revered. Dipankha yatra last took place in 2005 when more than 100,000 devotees had participated in the religious walk.

source: nepalnews.com