Vesak Buddha Purnima celebrations in Doon; prayers held for global peace

Dehradun: The annual Vesak Buddha Purnima Mahotsav was organised by the Doon Buddhist Committee in association with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board at IRDT Auditorium near Survey Chowk on Friday. The event saw participation from members of Buddhist communities, as well as a large number of participants from all walks of life, some coming from other cities, and featured a blend of sacred rituals, cultural performances and prayers for global peace and harmony.The programme began at 3.15 pm with a public gathering and the ceremonial Buddha bathing ritual. A traditional Tashi Shopa welcome dance was presented on the arrival of chief guest Maling Gombu, chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Khadi & Village Industries Board and general secretary of the Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition. Monks and nuns of Myanmar from Subharti University, and Gaden Jangtse Monastery offered prayers for world peace.Messages from the state leadership were also read out. Uttarakhand governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd) in his message said the teachings of truth and compassion espoused by Buddha remain relevant for modern society. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami described Buddha’s life as a path of love and self-realisation. A video message blessing global peace was shared by Khenchen Konchok Rangdol Rinpoche, President of Doon Buddhist Committee from the USA. Pema Tenzin, former professor of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, delivered a Dhamma discourse, while students from Bhutanese groups, Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha, Chenrezig School and Tibetan Homes Foundation School staged cultural performances.A spiritual song titled ‘Appo Deepo Bhava’ was also launched, highlighting a message of inner awakening and global unity. The Dhamma Ratna Award for this year was conferred on Kamal Singh Negi for his lifelong contribution to preservation of Buddhist heritage and social service.The programme concluded with a city peace march from Survey Chowk to Buddha Chowk, spreading the message of non-violence and goodwill. Among those present as guests of honour were Baljeet Singh Soni, vice-chairman, Uttarakhand Minorities Commission, Tsewang Phuntsok, Tibetan Settlement Officer of Uttarakhand, Brig K G Behl (retd), former deputy surveyor general and Yeshi Thupten, member (Buddhist), Uttarakhand Minorities Commission. Dignitaries were later felicitated by vice-president, Doon Buddhist Committee, Tsering Luding and other members of the organising body.