KATHMANDU: Following the Buddha’s guiding principles of tolerance and mutual goodwill can strengthen national unity, Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel said on the occasion of Lord Buddha’s Purnima on Friday.
The Himalayan nation is celebrating the 2,570th birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha, who was born in Lumbini, Nepal, around the 6th century BC.
Buddha’s birthday is celebrated every year on the full moon day of the lunar month of Baishakh.
Buddha is considered a messenger of non-violence and peace, and his birth anniversary is being celebrated across the country with hopes for peace.
Traditional pujas are held by Buddhists and performed by lamas and Buddhist masters at Chaityas, monasteries, viharas and other sacred places.
Various events are being organized at important pilgrimage sites like Lumbini, Swayambhu and Bodhisattva to mark the day.
In his message, President Ramchandra Paudel said that national unity can be further strengthened by maintaining tolerance and mutual goodwill amidst religious, social and cultural diversity and adhering to the message and guiding principles of Buddha, the advocate of non-violence and peace.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah sent greetings to everyone through social media. He said that Nepal was blessed by the birth of Buddha and has always advocated non-violence and peace.
“The path shown by the Buddha is the path to end suffering through the search for knowledge,” he said.
“When a ray of light enters, darkness automatically disappears; similarly, our journey should be to find the light of knowledge and should be on the path to solve problems,” Shah said.
The birth, enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha all took place on the full moon day of Baisak. Therefore, Buddhists around the world, including those in Nepal, celebrate the birthday of Buddha with deep reverence and devotion.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Nepal on Thursday celebrated the birth of Buddha in Lumbini in collaboration with Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University.
Celebrations held on the eve of the Buddha’s birthday include a painting exhibition by school students, chanting by Nepali and Indian monks and a vibrant cultural evening.
At the event, the Indian ICCR troupe headed by Deepti Gupta performed a Buddhist-themed Kathak dance, and a Nepali band led by sarod master Suresh Raj Bajracharya also gave a musical performance.
Lumbini Governor Krishna Bahadur Ghartimagar was the chief guest at the event.
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
