International Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration in Delhi

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Buddha Poornima Diwas at New Delhi — Mr Tempa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares dais with Mr Rajnath Singh, honorable Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Mahesh Sharma, hon’able minister of state for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mr Kiren Rijiju, hon’able minister of state for home, Mr. Upendra Kushwaha, hon’able minister of state for human resource development and Ven. Lama Lobzang at the international Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration at weightlifting Auditorium, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 21 May 2016. (Photo: Pachen Dorjee)

New Delhi, 21 May 2016: Under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of India, various Buddhist Organizations came together to celebrate the International Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration at Weightlifting Auditorium of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 21 May 2016. The program started with a group song by Chakma Buddhist Society. It was followed by an address by the President of International Chamber for Service Industry and the President of Samrat Ashok Club. A short film on Lord Buddha by PSBT was screened. Prof. Geshe Ngawang Samten, Vice Chancellor of Central University for Tibet Studies, Sarnath gave an introductory Dharma talk, which was then followed by a minute long of Meditation discourse by Dharmacharya Shantum Seth. Buddhist Monks of different traditions recited Mangalacharan-chanting of Sutras in Pali, Sanskrit and Tibetan. Ladakhi children’s choir from Mahabodhi school, Chandigarh sang a group song.

Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Honorable Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Chairperson of the Organizing Committee stated that, “Out of eight sacred places of Buddhism, seven are in India. Ministry of Tourism has launched a programme, namely “Swadesh Darshan” which has a special component of “Buddhist Circuit” which connects all religious places.”

Honorable Minister of State for Home Affairs Mr. Kiren Rijiju lauded the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in conceptualizing and initiating to celebrate Buddha Jayanti. Since Last year, Government of India has been directly involved in celebrating Buddha Jayanti in a grandeur manner.

The Chief Guest of the event, Mr. Rajnath Sigh, Honorable Minister of Home Affairs, Government of India said Vaisakhi Poornima is described as Buddha Poornima because Bhagwan Buddha’s birth, attainment of Sambodhiprapti and Mahaparinirvana all fell on this day. He stressed that solutions to all problems of mankind are contained in Lord Buddha’s teachings.

Vesak Samman Prashasti Patra 2016 awards were presented to Mr Ramesh Chandra Tiwari, Professor Geshe Ngawang Samten, Dharmachari Lokamitra and Bhadanta Galgedar Prajnanada Mahasthavir in recognition of outstanding contribution to the preservation, development and promotion of Indian arts and culture, and promotion and dissemination of Buddhist studies.

Mr. Tempa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a member of the Organizing Committee shares dais with Mr. Rajnath Singh, honorable Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Mahesh Sharma, honorable Minister of state for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mr. Kiren Rijiju, honorable Minister of State for Home, Mr. Upendra Kushwaha, Honorable Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Ven. Lama Lobzang of International Buddhist Confederation.

More than a hundred of Tibetan residing in Delhi also attended the celebration.

On Buddha Poornima Day, Tibetans in Samyeling Tibetan Settlement, Ladakh Buddh Vihar and South Delhi have been actively engaged in arranging and distributing free food and cold drinks service to the general Indian public.