Kathmandu, January 14:

About 20,000 pilgrims today walked around 150 Buddhist monasteries and their branches in the core of the capital city to mark the Baha pooja. The Baha pooja, a religious procession, is conducted once in 25 years.

The procession kicked off at 5 am from the hill of Swayambhu and ended in the evening at Watu, after visiting 131 shrines, mainly covering the monasteries, said Ratna Kaji Maharjan, secretary of the Lyayamha Dhime Pucha, the organiser of the procession. Pilgrims clad in traditional dresses offered rice grains, dry fruits, coins and even toffees to every main deity of the monasteries.

Among others, minister Buddhi Raj Bajracharya was also a participant in the procession. The Mahayana monasteries, sites of architectural beauty where disciplined learning is practised, are some of the treasure-troves of the Katmandu Valley.