Colombo: Personnel of Armed forces of three countries—India, Sri Lanka and Nepal—along with a few youths will take out a bike ride expedition along the Buddhist circuit from the birthplace of Gautam Buddha in Lumbini in Nepal to Sri Lanka via sacred places of worships in India in December this year.
The motorcycle rally is also expected to pass through Bodh Gaya and Kesaria in Bihar and, media reports said. The participants will also visit Kushinagar, Shravasti, Saranath, and Sankassa where Buddha spent many years about 2,600 years ago.
Also Read: Bodhgaya to be developed Varanasi way, 73-acre land identified
Citing preliminary discussions with Sri Lanka Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, organisers said that routes of the expedition will be charted out once the proposal was accepted by the governments of India and Nepal. However, the proposed route also cover Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra famous for their Buddhist frescoes, and arrive in South India to cross the sea at Rameswaram by ferry to Mannar, and arrive in Colombo by road, reports suggested.
It’s said that an organisation named One Universe is piloting the idea and the Sri Lankan Prime Minister appreciated the efforts in enhancing religious and cultural relations among the three countries with remarkable Buddhist footprints. He also assured his government’s full support for the expedition to be held under the direction of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
The bike ride scheduled for December this year. An One Universe functionary claimed that they had discussed the idea with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister for Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka, Vidura Wickramanayake, and State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Rohan Dissanayaka.
The organisation’s members Rahul Patel, Ritesh Vasant Chandan and Prashanth Karulkar participated in the discussion from India.
