TAXILA, Aug 6: A group of 10 Buddhist monks on Tuesday started their march for peace form Dharmarajika Stupa, in memory of the victims of Hiroshima and for dissolving prevailing tensions in the South Asian subcontinent.

On the same date in 1945, United States had dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, killing hundred and thousands of people.

The march, which started after a one-hour peace meeting, was being led by a Japanese Buddhist monk, Terasawa Junesi, consultant counsel of international peace bureau in Geneva. The Dharmarajika Stupa was built by Ashoka in 3rd century B.C.

The monks also visited Taxila Museum and worshipped in front of Buddhist relics. They also visited Sir Kap, the second city of Taxila, and Knala stupa. This stupa is named after Kanala, Ashoka’s son, who sacrificed his eyes for his stepmother.

Speaking on the occasion, the group leader, Terasawa Junesi, said Taxila Valley was the cradle of Buddhist civilization. He added that Gandhara was a centre of peace in the past and Buddha’s message was of peace.

He said 2000 years ago, at Dharmarajika, Ashoka preached the message of peace which spread to central Asia, China, Korea and Japan.

Later, talking to this reporter, he said one of the objectives of the peace march was to ease tension between India and Pakistan — the two neighbouring countries having nuclear bombs.

He said their message for peace was also for the whole world. He appreciated the preservation of the Buddhist sites and monuments by the Department of Archaeology and museum administration. He also asked the other countries to maintain the Buddhist sites, as they were symbol of peace for the next generations.

The march for peace will be concluded at Sanchi, India, after passing through main archaeological and Buddhist sites of Peshawar and Swat Valley.