Vadodara: Tibetan spiritual leader the
Dalai Lama on Saturday offered a white scarf and flowers at a more
than 100-year-old idol of Lord Buddha here.
The Dalai Lama, who was here to participate in a three
-day international seminar on 'Buddhism Heritage in Gujarat',
visited the Jubilee Garden, the site of the idol in meditative
posture in the heart of the city. He later left for Mumbai.
Yogesh Patel, Parliamentary Secretary to Chief
Minister Narendra Modi, Mayor Balkrishna Shukla, Municipal
Commissioner Manoj Kumar Das besides a large number of people
and officials were present on the occasion.
Talking to a news agency, Mayor Shukla said "Maharaja Sayajirao
Gaekwar III (erstwhile Baroda ruler) had brought the statue
from Japan in 1907 and built the Jubilee Garden, where it was
kept for public to spread Buddha's teachings."
"The essence of Buddha's teachings is growing in the
present era."
The local art galleries have several miniature and
Buddha idols brought from Myanmar, Japan, China and Nepal,
among other countries, Shukla said. "Vadodara is truly a
repository of glorious heritage linked to Buddhist legend."
The seminar began yesterday at Maharaj Sayajirao
University in the presence of the Dalai Lama and varsity Vice-
Chancellor Ramesh K Goyal.
Dignitaries and scholars from 15 nations are attending
the seminar.
Generally, sculptures and idols are not allowed to
move outside the museums. But considering the importance of
the global event, some of the rare Buddha idols have been
brought here from museums in the state with special permission
from the Gujarat Government. Modi is hosting the seminar.
"Gujarat is a deeply religious state and Vadodara is
considered its cultural capital. The city is one of the most
glorious Buddhist sites of western India," Goyal said.
Along side the seminar, an exhibition is also being
organised where the holy relics of Buddha and his rare idols
have been kept on display.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, January 16, 2010, 15:28