It gives me great pleasure to introduce ‘Nepal-India Religious Circuit’, as part of an initiative led by the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce
‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ endures as a common value between Nepal and India despite our other differences. This is also the foundation and motto of the professionals involved in the tourism sector.
I am pleased to note that the Nepal India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), Kathmandu, has come out with a coffee table book.
Political, Social, Cultural, Religious, and Economic links and engagements between Nepal and India have been created.
The Nepal India Chamber of Commerce (NICCI) has acted as a bridge between India and Nepal for several years by promoting engagements between businesses, people and
Nepal Tourism Board(NTB) is delighted to be associated with the initiative by the Nepal India Chamber of Commerce and Industries (NICCI).
‘Shakti’ means power while ‘Peeth’ refers to place. Shakti Peeth is the place where energy is found and worshipped. These are places believed to be important to Hinduism due to their link to God Shiva. It is believed that every living being needs power to exist. Without power, there is no existence. Therefore, these Shakti Peeths are considered to be of religious and spiritual importance.
Mahabharata is one of two leading epics of South Asia. Its pervasive influence from ancient to present day Nepal and India has been traced by history, religious practices and cultures, tangible and intangible heritages, and the belief system of both the countries. The epic of Mahabharata is an orally transmitted (shruti) story compiled in written form over epochs of its continuous oral transmission.
There are many religious and mythological stories and discoveries that link various pilgrimage sites of Nepal to the popular ‘Ramayana Circuit’ of India. These stories are the backdrop for the connections between the circuit and religious tourist destinations of Nepal: Janakpurdham, Dhanush Sagar, Ramsita Vivahmandap, Kagbeni (Kagbhusundi Dham), Valmiki Ashram and Ramadighat, amongst others
According to the Mahaparinirvana Sutra (the sutra of the Great Demise), in the last discourse of the Buddha (6th BCE), he spoke about the sacredness of certain places associated with his life. These were: Lumbini: the place where he was born; Bodhgaya: the place where he attained Enlightenment; Sarnath: the place where he preached the first sermon; Kushinagara: the place where he attained Mahaparinirvana. The Buddha emphasized that devotees should visit and venerate these holy places as a way of purifying their thought, speech and action. In other words, pilgrimage to the holy places would energise the devotee to make progress on following the Buddha’s Eightfold Path. It is widely believed today that pilgrimage to these holy places with the correct attitude can help devotees advance on the path of the Dhamma (Dharma). In the 3rd century BCE, roughly two centuries after the demise (Mahaparinirvana) of the Buddha, the Indian Subcontinent came under the rule of Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Dynasty. After having fought many bloody battles, Ashoka embraced the teachings of Buddha (Dhamma). He dedicated the rest of his life to spreading Dhamma. He erected rock edicts bearing inscriptions on Dhamma, sent missions to far-off lands to disseminate Dhamma, and undertook Dhamma pilgrimage to the four sacred places mentioned in Mahaparinirvana Sutra and the four places where Buddha performed miracles. These four places where Buddha performed miracles were: Rajagriha: the place where the Buddha tamed the elephant Nalagiri; Vaishali: the place where monkey offered honey to the Buddha; Shravasti: the place where the Buddha performed the miracle of pairs; and Sankisa: the place where Buddha descended from tushita heaven. The four sacred places and the four places of miracles are together known as Atthamahathanani or the Eight Great Places. Pilgrimage to these eight shrines is known as “dhamma yatra†(Dhamma expedition) or a pilgrimage of piety. It used to be the goal of each Buddhist to visit these sites in their lifetime.
Sikhism is said to be the youngest religion in the world at 552 years old (1469). It is the only religion that celebrates its birthday on Baisakh 1st (April-May Gregorian calendar). The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), is the first Guru of the Sikhs.
