Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the International Buddha Purnima Diwas on Monday here at Talkatora Stadium. The programme is organised by the International Buddhist Confederation with the support of the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“A special prayer to express solidarity with the peoples of India and Nepal will be organised on this occasion, and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in prayers and solidarity with the peoples of India and Nepal - the land of birth of Buddha. The Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma and the Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju will also be present. Members of Parliament, ambassadors, eminent scholars, Buddhist monks and nuns from India and various other countries will also participate. large number of followers of Buddha Dharma from all over India is expected to attend the event,” said the statement issued by Home Ministry.
“The move to host International Buddha Purnima Diwas Celebration 2015 was initiated under the aegis of International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) by the Prime Minster Modi and the MoS Home, Kiren Rijiju who have accorded the importance in preservation and promotion of shared heritage and development of Buddhist pilgrimage and heritage circuit in top priority,” it added.
Announcing the “extraordinary” celebrations, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that the “international community has always looked up to India for taking a lead as this is the country where Buddha attained enlightenment and where Buddhism was born”.