Varanasi, May 13 – SEVERAL FUNCTIONS were organised to mark Budh Purnima here on Saturday. The birthplace of Buddhism, Sarnath, became the hub of Buddhist activities. The programmes will continue till Sunday.
Sarnath, the centre of Mahabodhi Society of India organised a series of function here at Mulgandh Kuty Vihar. Several functions like administration of Astangsheela and offering of Buddha Puja, offering flowers to the Shakyamuni Buddha at the Mulgandh Kuti Vihar by eminent personalities, offering donations to monks and public meeting were organised.
The government-sponsored programme organised in the evening was inaugurated by State Minister for Tourism Kokab Hamid.
A ‘chetna rally’ was also taken out from Mulgandh Kuty Vihar to mark the occasion. Speaking as chief guest, Vice-Chancellor of Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Prof KP Singh highlighted the preaching of Gautam Buddha, while Dr OP Kejriwal, information commissioner, Central Information Commission, dwelt on the importance of Buddha’s preaching in contemporary
society.
Prof. Yeshi Thabkhes, Department of Indian Philosophy, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, presided while chief priest of Sankat Mochan Temple, Prof. Veer Bhadra Mishra was guest of honour.
Prior to this, a large number of monks and eminent personalities took out a world peace march and religious procession in Varanasi on Friday evening.
A seminar on ‘World Culture and Lord Buddha’ was organised at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Saturday to mark the occasion. Prof. Ramshankar Tripathi, a former head, Department of Buddha Philosphy in SSU, Prof. Surya Nath Tripathi and Prof. Hari Shankar Shukla also spoke on the occasion.
