The US phase of the ‘Gandhi-Martin Luther King Jr Peace Pilgrimage’ took off from New York on July 28.
Mumbai: Upholding the values of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr, a peace pilgrimage is presently underway to promote non-violence, global peace, and harmony across the USA, Canada, and the UK. The ‘Gandhi-Martin Luther King Jr Peace Pilgrimage’, which began in July from Pune, will conclude with a symbolic walk to The Gandhi Statue in London in November.
VishwaMitra Yogesh (Yogesh Mathuria), a global peace promoter and wellness coach, is the visionary behind the pilgrimage, which seeks to inspire communities, nations, and the world at large to embrace peaceful solutions, fostering understanding, dialogue, and unity.
With over 30 years in the IT Services industry and extensive travels across 25 countries, the 66-year-old's journey took a transformative turn in 2005 towards advocating for global peace. Since then, he has completed 21,000 kilometers of peace pilgrimages, embodying the principle of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family).
"This pilgrimage is a journey of the heart, inspired by the teachings of Gandhi and MLK (Martin Luther King Jr). We walk to spread the message of non-violence, peace, and harmony across the borders," Yogesh said in a release shared with The South Asian Times.
VishwaMitra Yogesh and other peace walkers at the inauguration of a Wall of Peace during their visit to Pakistan. (Photo provided by VishwaMitra Yogesh)
Pilgrims Ikeda Kanshin, VishwaMitra Yogesh, Jalandhernath Channole, and Nitin Sonawane. (Photo provided by VishwaMitra Yogesh)
In his journey, he is joined by Nitin Sonawane, 33, an engineer who has walked thousands of kilometers in 50 countries, promoting non-violence and sustainability, and Ikeda Kanshin, 41, a Buddhist monk from Tokyo. Ikeda has traveled the world spreading peace prayers and participating in various rituals, contributing to the construction of peace pagodas in several countries.
"Walking for peace has taught me the power of non-violence and the importance of sustainability. It’s an honor to be part of this global mission," said Sonawane.
Inspired by Gandhi's 'all religion prayer' and satyagraha, the team plans to hold daily prayer meetings at local/state/national institutions, state legislatures, and the US Congress. "Peace prayers have the power to transform communities. Through this pilgrimage, we aim to touch lives and promote harmony," Ikeda said.
The 'all religion prayer' introduced by Gandhi was a unique practice where prayers and readings from various religions were included in a single gathering. The idea was to promote mutual respect and understanding among different faiths. This typically included texts and hymns from major world religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and others. Gandhi believed that such a practice would encourage a spirit of tolerance and understanding, and help bridge the gaps between different communities.
VishwaMitra Yogesh and Nitin Sonawane being presented with a Mahatma Gandhi statue. (Photo provided by VishwaMitra Yogesh)
The pilgrims' progress
After arriving from Pune, the US phase of the pilgrimage started on July 28th from New York and will cover Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It will conclude in Dallas, Texas, on September 3.
After completing the East Coast route, the pilgrims will fly from Dallas to Halifax, Canada, on September 4 for an international peace program. Returning to the USA, they will continue the second phase covering the West Coast from September 23 to 31st October. It will start from Seattle and cover Washington, Oregon, and California.
From November, the peace pilgrimage will start from Liverpool, and conclude at the Gandhi Statue, Parliament Square in London on November 15. The pilgrims also welcomed local people to join their journey.
