Nawalparasi West, Dec. 22 -- One hundred Buddhist nuns from 13 countries have embarked on a week-long pilgrimage tracing the ancient route taken by Mahaprajapati Gautami, the Shakya queen who renounced palace life to become the first Buddhist nun more than 2,600 years ago.

The participants followed the historic trail from the Shakya capital Tilaurakot, crossing dusty paths, fields and rivers, including the Anomaghat section along the Narayani River. While some boarded boats and others prepared to wade across, their purpose was not leisure: they were re-enacting the arduous journey Gautami undertook from Kapilvastu in Nepal to Vaishali in India to seek ordination.

Named the Mahaprajapati Gautami Great Renunciation Trail, the initiative h...