2570th Buddha Jayanti marked nationwide

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 2: The nation marked the 2570th Buddha Jayanti by organising various programmes in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, as well as in Swayambhunath and Bouddhanath on Friday.

The birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautam Buddha coincide on the same day in Baishakh Shukla Paksha. Buddhists all over the world celebrate it as an auspicious occasion to express their devotion to Buddha.

On the day, devotees visited chaityas, gumbas, viharas, stupas, and other Buddhist religious sites. The day is celebrated by organising various activities such as worshipping, praying, delivering speeches, meditation, and expressing devotion and respect towards Lord Buddha.

According to our district correspondent, Kapil Gyawali from Siddharthnagar, Buddha Jayanti was celebrated in Lumbini, Rupandehi, the birthplace of Buddha.

The programme, scheduled for 5 am, was affected by rain and started at 8:30 am, concluding within an hour.

At a programme organised by the Lumbini Development Trust to mark the 2570th Buddha Jayanti, Speaker Dol Prasad (DP) Aryal and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadag Raj Poudel, along with monks, nuns and devotees from various monasteries in Lumbini, performed worship and meditation at the Mayadevi Temple.

On the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, which falls on the full moon day of Baisakh, Lumbini bustled with domestic and foreign tourists.

The Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana sects performed pujas at the event. Lumbini Province Chief Krishna Bahadur Gharti, the United Nations Resident Representative for Nepal, and federal parliamentarians were also present.