National Buddha Jayanti Celebrations

On the auspicious occasion of the Triple Blessed Day of Buddha Jayanti this year’s national celebration was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation​ (IBC) in association with Buddhist organizations from all over India at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi.

Chief Guest Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi​ji along with the Honble Minister of State for Culture, Dr. Mahesh Sharma​ ji, IBC Secretary General Ven Dhammapiya, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju​ ji inaugurated the celebrations. It was graced by Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati​ ji and other revered #Buddhist #monks, #nuns and respected #interfaith leaders.

It began with blessings by our interfaith leaders followed by the ceremonious bringing in of the holy relics of Bhagawan Buddha by eminent Buddhist Monks. It included beautiful cultural performances and songs on the teachings of Bhagawan Buddha as well as the screening of the Film Sri Siddhartha Gautama.
Upon Honble Prime Minister Shri Modi ji’s arrival, he offered his respects to the holy relics, lit the lamp and then offered the Sangh Dana to 14 monks from India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam and Japan, who had come to attend the celebrations.

Honble Prime Minister highlighted that India has been historically peaceful and never attacked or encroached any other country. He also shared that the confluence of satya (truth) and karuna (compassion) is Buddha. He said that each one of us has the ability to live in the light of truth, attain Buddhahood, by practicing the eight fold path which consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi (meditative absorption).

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati​ shared in her blessing at the beginning of the programme, “On Buddha Jayanti we celebrate light of truth, the light of oneness and togetherness that Bhagawan Buddha brought to all of humanity. His teachings and his divine touch continues to give, give and give to not just Buddhists, Indians but to the entire world.”

Watch the entire ceremony here:

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