Students at five Hawke's Bay schools had the chance to spread some world peace this week, as the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run visited, carrying a flaming torch that has been passed around the world for 30 years.
Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual leader who taught meditation in the West after moving to New York City in 1964. He was an advocate of athleticism, organising marathons and other races, and was an active runner.
The annual Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run is a global relay seeking to inspire the creation of a more peaceful world.
As a symbol of peace and harmony, runners carry a flaming torch, passing it from hand to hand, and it has passed through some famous hands including those of Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali.
The torch is carried from country to country by an 11-member international relay team, and schoolchildren, mayors, athletes and citizens from all walks of life are invited to hold the peace torch during its journey.