Dharma Yatra 2010

Afternoon of Thursday July 22^th, 2010
to 12 noon on Sunday, August 1^st, 2010

We ask that Yatra participants be there for the whole 10 days. It is not possible to join on any other day of the Yatra. There will not be a change-over day as in the previous Yatras.

Dear Friends

In 2001, with just over 60 people, the first Dharma Yatra left Tapovan (near Carcassonne) and walked for 19 days to Plum village.

In 2010, we will start near Limoux (South of France), with places available for 120 adults and children.

Please read carefully the following details, before you contact us with any questions. They will probably be answered with the information below.

Below you will find details on:

• How to Register
• The starting point and end point of Yatra
• How to get there by car
• Car sharing
• Staying before and/or after the Yatra
• Dana
• Registration fee
• Methods of payment
• What to bring
• Cancellations
• Contacts

HOW TO REGISTER

In order to register for the Yatra you need to do the following :

1. Read below all details concerning the Yatra.
2. Once you have read all the relevant information fill out a Dharma Yatra booking form for everyone over 16 years of age and send either on line or by post to the address below.
   • To fill and return by email: Dharma Yatra registration form in Word format (.doc)
   • To print and return by mail: Dharma Yatra registration form in PDF format (.pdf)
3. Send €50 non-refundable registration fee, per person (excluding children) either
   • by cheque in euros:
     
     • payable to :
           Yatra (important!)
       
     • and mail it to:
           Yatra
           c/o Muriel Bansard
           3 Place Saint Roch
           61110 Rémalard
           France
       Please send by mail as early as possible, or at the latest before the end of July.
   • by credit card / Paypal:
   • or by bank transfer using this information:
     • Account holder: Yatra
     • IBAN: FR76 1660 6000 6000 1336 3149 156
     • BIC/SWIFT: AGRIFRPP866

When we receive your booking form and deposit, we will send you a confirmation by email.

As the Yatra was filled to its maximum capacity for the last years, we would advise to register as soon as possible to ensure that you have a place.

STARTING PLACE - Thursday July 22th 2010
The Yatra will start in En Durou, a hamlet in the village of Festes et Saint André (11300).
We ask you to arrive in the afternoon so that you can register, set up your tent and be ready for diner at 6pm.
The closest Train station is 15 km away in Limoux via Carcassonne. The closest airport is Carcassonne, then Toulouse.
By train
The train schedule between Carcassonne and Limoux is the following:

If you tell us in advance (with arriving time and place you come from), we can organise lifts between the train station and the campsite in Festes et Saint André. Cost sharing is expected.

By car
Arriving from Carcassonne on D118, drive through Limoux (total 3 traffic roundabouts, each time go straight) keep the direction to Quillan.
500 meters after the 3rd traffic roundabout take the D121 road to right ( indicated Magrie and Roquetaillade).
Stay up on the D121 until Bouriège, turn right towards Festes et Saint André crossing the bridge (staying on the D121).
Cross the village Festes et Saint André and then look for a sign on the left indicating "En Durou" and et "Aire de pique nique" (picnic area).
After 50m, this road crosses a stream.
The "Yatra" Parking is immediately to the right. Cars must remain there. Drivers can get lifts back at the end of the Yatra

A shuttle will be available to carry the luggage to the camp site. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE UP IN CAR to the campsite. The road is narrow, chaotic and it is very difficult to cross (so there’s a risk of long marches back ...).

Note: If you have room in your car, do not forget to propose carpool (see the Yatra car-sharing website) and / or pass through the station to transport people to starting point.
Hitch hiking
You can also hitch-hike (see arriving by car to get the directions), once on the small road it’s usually working well !

YATRA WILL END - Sunday August 1st
The Yatra will end in Bugarach on August 1st at noon. We’ll organize lifts back to the parking place and to the train station. Please, give us your connections constraints when you register.

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CAR SHARING

Get in contact with others about car-sharing on this page:

www.dharmayatra.org/covoiturage

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STAYING AFTER

There are campsites nearby. Participants have to organize themselves.

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DANA

The principle of "Dana" or Generosity is at the roots of the Dharma Yatra.

There is no fixed charge for participating in the Yatra, apart from the registration fee (see below). The whole event relies on generosity. All those organizing the Yatra, which involves many hundreds of hours of work, are doing so voluntarily.

Expenses for Dharma Yatra include all the meals provided, administration costs, maintenance and running of the kitchen and equipments, hiring 3 to 4 vehicles, Teachers' travel fares, etc. All donations are made to "Yatra", a non-profit association (Association sans but lucratif loi 1901)

Dana will also be invited for the Teachers who receive no payment for coming and teaching on the Yatra, and for the main organizers.

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REGISTRATION FEE

We have introduced a non-refundable registration fee of €50. This helps contributes to the considerable pre-Yatra expenses, and is also to encourage commitment with the booking process. In 2006 we refused people because we were over our limit of 170 people per week, only to find that around 40 people who were registered failed to show up. This meant that people who could have participated were unable to do so. Since, with the registration fee, only about 2-3 people didn't showed up.

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METHODS OF PAYMENT

You can offer Dana before, during and after the Yatra, in any of the following ways;

• Cash of any currency
• Cheques in euros (payable to "Yatra")
• International travellers' cheques

Important: Please note we cannot accept credit cards or PayPal transactions at the end of the Yatra, as we will not be near banking or computer facilities.

Important: There will not be any ATM accessible during the duration of the Yatra, so please plan accordingly!

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WHAT TO BRING

You need to bring with you the following:

• Tent, mat, warm sleeping bag. (It can be cold in the evening/night times even in the south of France!)
• Sun hat and protective clothing for hot weather
• Water proofs for wet weather
• Warm jumper/jacket for cool weather
• Good walking sandals or shoes or boots
• Water bottle(s) for 2 liters or more
• Sun screen, insect repellent, blister plasters.
• A torch and spare batteries
• Cup, plate, bowl and cutlery
• Toiletries, towel, swim wear, etc
• Driving license if you are willing to drive one of the hired vehicles or if you are a parent who will share in driving the crèche vehicle (please send us a photocopy before July)

Please pack lightly, all the luggage has to be transported to each new site!

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CANCELLATIONS

If you cancel please inform us straight away. There is normally a waiting list and your place will allow someone else to attend.

Please note that your €50 registration fee is non-refundable.

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CONTACTS

For further information and details about the the Dharma Yatra, look at our Frequently Asked Questions page.

For any amendments to your Booking form or questions about the Yatra, email us or contact us on the address below.

Important: Before contacting us, please take the time to read all the information on the pages Dharma Yatra 2010 and FAQ. The answers to most of your questions can be found in this website.
Please ONLY contact Muriel if you have an important question that is not addressed in the website.
Please make your questions clear and precise.
Your help with this request will be much appreciated.

Muriel's e-mail address is:

We look forward to welcoming you on the Yatra
With metta,

the Dharma Yatra Team

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