The monks offered special prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya before leaving on the march to another holy town, over 43 miles away.

Monks from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea and even the U.S. joined the march. Bodh Gaya is one of the holiest sites in the Buddhist religion.

Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained unsurpassed, supreme enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, and over 100,000 pilgrims and tourists visit the holy place every year.

An ancient Pipal Ficus Religiosa tree, or Bodhi tree, located at the rear of the temple is said to be a descendent of the one under which Buddha meditated.