Jan 3, 2023 Live from the road

Olive Peace Tree Ceremony - Split, Marjan Nature Park

Reported by Vasanti Niemz, Vyavasayaha . 4.0 km

The Olive Tree – Symbol of Peace

The olive tree (Olea europea) has symbolised peace and friendship since antiquity. To extend an olive branch, means to try to repair a strain in a relationship, it also represents the symbols for reward, victory, strength, purification, fruitfulness, and peace. Hence, an olive tree has been selected to mark the beginning of the New Year 2023 with all its new hopes, and as an expression of humanity's longing for peace in the world.

This two-year old olive tree sapling was gifted to Marjan Nature Park by the International Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run and dedicated as a Peace Tree in Split, Croatia, together with park officials, on 3rd January, 2023.

An international team of Peace Runners led by Gordana Petrovčić, Peace Run Coordinator for Croatia, carrying the Peace Torch from Trstenik Bay, running up the Marjan Hill staircase towards the Peace Tree Ceremony site.

Marko Pejnović, Director of the Public Institution for the Management of Marjan Forest Park, receives the Peace Torch and welcomes the Peace Runners.

Singing the Peace Run anthem, which expresses the vision of a world-family living and growing joyfully in oneness and harmony.

Sending smiles and wishes for Peace from Croatia!

Peace Run members from 41 countries are gathered to celebrate the Peace Tree dedication.

Park Management Director Marko Pejnović, Marjan Forest Park staff ...

... along with Peace Run Coordinator for Zagreb, Dubravka Radić, and Peace Run Coordinator for Split, Vyavasāyaha Anita Bušić, planting the Olive Peace Tree together as a symbol of the yearning for peace in humanity's heart which hopefully will grow stronger and stronger into a world-oneness-tree.

Vision of A Perfect Oneness-World

"As the countless drops
Of the boundless ocean
Or the myriad leaves
Of a huge banyan tree
Peacefully remain side by side,
Even so, all human beings
Will someday live side by side
In a perfect oneness-world."

- Sri Chinmoy (Peace Run founder)

Sharing the Peace Torch and its spirit

Members of Peace Run Finland

Czech Republic

UK, Czech Republic and Slovakia

Hungary and Brazil

Germany

Austria and Bulgaria

Switzerland and Germany

Ireland and Germany

Switzerland

The beautiful view from the hillside down to the historical complex of Split with its harbour and the Palace of Diocletian, a UNESCO world heritage site.

O dreamers of peace, come.
Let us walk together.
O lovers of peace, come.
Let us run together.
O servers of peace, come.
Let us grow together.

- Sri Chinmoy, Peace Run Founder

Torch carried by
Adesh Widmer (Switzerland), Agnieszka Sarzynska (Poland), Ankurika Hammerl (Austria), Antarajyoti Federica Rossi (Italy), Bhadrika Beumer (Netherlands), Deveshu Zuderell (Austria), Edwige Cotrel (France), Estela Garcia (Spain), Ferenc Papp (Hungary), Gesiane Nascimento (Brazil), Gordana Petrovčić (Croatia), Ilija Djordjevic Arsic (Serbia), Ilvaka Němcová (Czech Republic), Jatnaban Sinilaine (Finland), Jayasalini Abramovskikh (Russia), Jovana Milenković (Serbia), Kamaniya Palmer (Sweden), Luiza Haritom (Romania), Mahasatya Janczak (Poland), Mona Majkovska (North Macedonia), Nisanga Mehikic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Palash Bosgang (United States), Peteris Seso (Latvia), Pramodan Gmeiner (Germany), Pratul Halper (Austria), Roxana Magdici (Romania), Sadanand Magee (Ireland), Samalya Schäfer (Germany), Shamita Achenbach-König (Austria), Suswara Payne (Great Britain), Tatyana Troyanovich (Ukraine), Tirtha Voelkner (Germany), Ulugbek Berdimurotov (Uzbekistan), Vasanti Niemz (Germany), Vera Marques (Portugal), Vihan Hernandez (Guatemala), Vinati Docziova (Slovakia), Virochana Lacanna (Italy), Vyavasayaha . (Croatia), Yuri Khraputsky (Belarus).  
Photographers
Bijoy Imhof, Gordana Petrovčić, Vaibhava Kuschnow
The torch has travelled 4.0 km from Olive Peace Tree Ceremony to Split, Marjan Nature Park.

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