Kathmandu : About 200 "Kung fu nuns" kicked off a month-long journey from Nepal through India on Saturday, swapping their flowing maroon robes for lycra leggings to raise awareness about human trafficking and gender equality.
The Buddhist nuns are trained in martial arts and frequently organise pilgrimages and cycling trips to promote gender equality.
"We are starting our fifth cycle yatra (pilgrimage) today and our main mission is about increasing awareness about female empowerment, the environment and human trafficking," nun Yeshe Lhamo told AFP.
Each year thousands of women and children across South Asia are lured into cities and across borders with promises of lucrative jobs but are instead sold into modern-day slavery.
Nepal has seen an upswing in the number of cases of trafficking since a devastating earthquake in 2015 left thousands homeless.
The country's human rights commission estimated that there were about 23,200 cases of trafficking or attempted trafficking last year.
The nuns said they came across several cases of trafficking while volunteering in relief efforts for earthquake victims.
"That's how we had this idea of going on this cycle yatra to all the remote places and telling people we are all girls, girls are capable of doing everything. They are not useless, they are not things to sell," said 23-year-old nun Jigme Konchok Lhamo.
The nuns will cover a 3,000-kilometre route from the hills of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, peddling through south India to Delhi and then to Darjeeling.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Buddhist nuns are trained in martial arts and frequently organise pilgrimages and cycling trips to promote gender equality.
"We are starting our fifth cycle yatra (pilgrimage) today and our main mission is about increasing awareness about female empowerment, the environment and human trafficking," nun Yeshe Lhamo told AFP.
Nepal has seen an upswing in the number of cases of trafficking since a devastating earthquake in 2015 left thousands homeless.
Advertisement
The nuns said they came across several cases of trafficking while volunteering in relief efforts for earthquake victims.
Advertisement
The nuns will cover a 3,000-kilometre route from the hills of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, peddling through south India to Delhi and then to Darjeeling.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Committed To Strengthen Nepal-India Relations": Newly Appointed PM KP Sharma Oli KP Sharma Oli Takes Oath As Nepal PM After Prachanda Loses Trust Vote PM Modi Congratulates Nepali PM K P Sharma Oli On His Third Term Win Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Opposes Karnataka's Job Quota Bill, Minister Responds World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Puja Khedkar's Father Was Suspended Twice On Extortion Complaints Meet Gagan, A Daily Wager Who Cracked IIT Despite All Odds Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.