Bhairahawa (Rupandehi), 16 March: The Dhamma Yatra, a journey of five hundred monks (short-term monks), concluded on Saturday. The Dhamma Yatra, which started from Siddhartha Stadium in Bhairahawa, ended at Lumbini Gate via Devkota Chowk, Bank Road, Narayanpath. More than a thousand locals welcomed the monks by showering flowers at their feet at Lumbini Gate. The Dhamma Yatra also concluded with the initiation ceremony of the monks.
With the support of the Dhammakaya Foundation of Thailand, the short-term Kalaputra Prabajya program was organized by the All Nepal Monks Federation, the Thai Monks Federation, and the Lumbini Development Fund, and five hundred people were ordained in Lumbini. After receiving the ordination, they have now become Shravaners, or short-term monks. This was done because when Shravaners and monks travel to spread the Dhamma, they develop a sense of Dharma, compassion, and friendship among the general public, said Bhikkhu Sriwajir, associate professor at Lumbini Buddhist University.
Short-term monks must wear yellow robes and follow the 10 precepts of Buddhism. While ordinary followers follow the Five and Eight Precepts, short-term monks must completely convert themselves to Buddhist precepts within 20 days. To become a monk, there are 227 precepts to follow.
The word Dhamma Yatra is made up of the words ‘Dhamma’ and ‘Yatra’. ‘Dhamma’ means good deeds, while ‘Yatra’ means journey. Dhamma Yatra means going towards good deeds or departing with good deeds. They became Sravaneras by following the 10 different precepts of Buddhism. They were given a yellow robe. In this way, a person who became Sravaneras took classes on the observance of precepts, meditation, and Buddhist teachings, said Bhikkhu Srivajir. “Pravajya means that before Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, he renounced his kingdom and household and became a monk, that is what we call Pravajya,” said Srivajir. “Bhagavan started his path of enlightenment from Pravajya life itself.”
The Bhikshu Pravajya program is important for imparting religious and spiritual education to new monks, as well as establishing the values ​​of tolerance and equality in society, and especially encouraging the youth. The Dhamma Yatra organized by the Dhammakaya Foundation was facilitated by the Buddhist Society of Nepal. Since Lord Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment on the day of Phagu Purnima, the Dhamma Yatra has been held since last year, falling close to Phagu Purnima. After attaining enlightenment, Gautam Buddha returned from the place where the present Bhairahawa area is located, so the Dhamma Yatra was held in Bhairahawa, said Shankar Gaha, central president of the Buddhist Society of Nepal.
Hari Om Bishwakarma, Senior Vice President of the Buddhist Society of Nepal, said that the monks have visited areas such as Butwal, Buddha Mavali, Devdaha and others during the Dhamma Yatra. In Lumbini, 1,000 people were ordained in 2011, 1,112 in 2015, 1,119 in 2019, 500 in 2023 and 1,250 in 2024, while 500 people have been ordained this year.
