First Inaugural Mahapajapati Great Renunciation Trail Bhikkhuni Sangha Carika Pilgrimage

Dhammadharini
Jun 19
2 min read

Updated: 11 minutes ago

June 19, 2025

Welcoming the Bhikkhuni Sangha Back to Its Roots - to our Buddhist Homeland - Where it All Began

We’re happy to make a preliminary announcement of the First Inaugural Mahapajapati Great Renunciation Trail Bhikkhuni Sangha Carika Pilgrimage

Scheduled for the third week of December 2025, directly after the the International Tipitaka Chanting in Buddhagaya, which is being led up by India for the first time.

Departing from Tilaurakot Nepal - emerging from the Palace gates, and following the footsteps of Mahapajapati Gotami and the 500 Founding Mothers of the Bhikkhuni Sangha on their Great Renunciation Trail, to the newly rediscovered Mahapajapati Parinibbana Stupa in Vaishali.

This is for Bhikkhunis of all three Yanas:

- Theravāda

- Mahāyāna

- Vajrayāna

For the 2025 Inaugural Pilgrimage, planning for a small group of 25 Bhikkhunis, plus 25 Samaneris, Aspirants, Supporters, for a total of 50.

There will be a documentary film trailer recorded.

And then in 2026, there is an aspirational dedication for a Carika of 500 international Bhikkhunis, making a high-quality documentary film, and offering a Mahapajapati Gotami statue at the stupa in Vaishali, plus 500 bhikkhuni statues for the Indian Bhikkhuni Sangha and participants.

We are welcoming blessings & moral support from National and International Bhikkhuni Associations and Buddhist woman's organizations.

We don’t yet have more detailed information to share, but when it is available, it will be posted on this page.