Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in prayers and solidarity with the people of India and Nepal on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
According to a release, a special prayer to express solidarity with the people of India and Nepal to mark the International Buddha Purnima Diwas 2015 will be organised here.
An ambitious proposal to transform the Buddha Stupa here into a centre dedicated to the life and teachings of the Buddha would also be discussed at the gathering which is to be attended by ambassadors, MPs, scholars and Buddhist monks from across the globe.
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”.
Responding to queries from reporters, the minister, meanwhile, dismissed any notion that the event was aimed at delivering “political messages” across the border and said that organising it was “natural” on the part of India.
He rued that there had been little effort or government initiative to mark Buddha Purnima and said that the celebrations would be an annual affair from now on.
“It is going to begin from this year. It is incumbent upon India to take the lead. Buddhist countries look up to India for this guidance,” he said.
