Buddhism outreach: PM Modi, President Kovind to address Ashadha Purnima celebrations in Uttar Pradesh’s Sarnath

Ashadha Purnima celebrations take place at Mulagandha Kuti Vihara in Uttar Pradesh's Sarnath which houses the holy relics of Buddha.

File Photo

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Ashadha Purnima celebrations that will take place at the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara in Uttar Pradesh’s Sarnath on Wednesday (July 13) via video message. Ashadha Purnima is the second most sacred day for Buddhists after the Buddha Purnima or the Vaishakha Purnima. The celebrations take place at Mulagandha Kuti Vihara which houses the holy relics of Buddha.

The event will also see the presence of Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Culture Gangapuram Kishan Reddy and Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal. Governor Anandiben Patel will seek blessing from the Holy Buddha Relics with senior Venerable Monks before the commencement of the programme.

The event is being organized by International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and high-level representation shows India's continued outreach to Buddhism. PM Modi visited Lumbini in Nepal on Buddha Poornima, emphasising on the shared cultural linkages between the two countries. Modi had also participated in the "Shilanyas” ceremony for the construction of a centre for Buddhist culture and heritage at Lumbini which is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a key pilgrimage site.

Not just visits but engagement has continued in other ways, including the Indian government co-hosting an event on Buddha Purnima which saw 24 Buddhist spiritual leaders, including Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama participating. India also sent four Holy Kapilvastu Relics of Lord Buddha to Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar for an 11-day exposition. The Buddha Relics also known as the ‘Kapilvastu Relics’ since they are from a site in Bihar first discovered in 1898 which is believed to be the ancient city of Kapilvastu.