Walk of Hope participants passing through Karnataka.
Padayatras, marching through the cities and countryside for a cause, are quite popular in India. But there is one walk that dwarfs many others in the sheer distance it aims to cover.
The Walk of Hope - a march for peace and harmony - was flagged off on January 12, Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary. It started from Kanyakumari and is scheduled to end in Kashmir next year, after covering a distance of 6,500 kms.
It has been organised by the Manav Ekta Mission and led by spiritual guru Sri M through 11 states acorss the country. Sri M and his marchers have covered over 1404 kms in the last 86 days. They are currently passing through Karnataka.
Walking down the city's Kanakapura Road, Sri M told NDTV, "It's understood no two people are alike. But at some point we forget that we are human beings and create problems for other people. That's the reason why unnecessary violence that escalates, not only communal, but religious and otherwise too. So from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, I am walking with the people so that, at least in future, they are not misguided by vested interests."
The organisers say that this is an entirely apolitical walk and not affiliated to any religious organization. Funds have been raised by individual contributions.
People from across India and various backgrounds have joined the spiritual guru, including a couple from Dubai. Former Karnataka top cop, Ajai Kumar Singh is one of the many who is walking with him. He says there is a connection between his policing career and this spiritual walk.
He told NDTV, "In a very small way we are doing the same thing. Legally speaking, maintaining law and order, is like maintaining peace. But this is much deeper."
The heat of summer has not discouraged the walkers, who will walk on through the year until they reach Kashmir next year.