Buddha Jayanti celebrated with gusto

From Our Correspondent
Itagar, May 10: The Buddhist community in Aruchal Pradesh today celebrated Buddha Jayanti, the thrice blessed day symbolizing Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and salvation (Nirva) across state with religious fervour and gaiety.
The Theravada Buddhist Society and Itagar Buddhist Cultural Society jointly organised the day at Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Thuptan Ga-Tselling Mostery, here with great zeal and enthusiasm. A religious procession was organised on the occasion in which people in large numbers chanting Buddhist chants as well as carrying holy scripts and sacred books along with the statue of Lord Buddha went from Theravada Buddhist Mostery to Thuptan Ga-Tselling Mostery. Gracing the occasion PHE & WS Minister Bamang Felix said that the teachings of Buddha have been a way of life as Buddhism is based on peace, friendship, compassion and non-violence. He said that the celebration is of great spiritual significance as it is an occasion for the people to reflect on and draw inspiration from prominence of the Buddha on peace, harmony and tolerance. Speaking on the occasion, Capital DC Prince Dhawan spoke on the Dhamma, saying that the truth taught by the Buddha, could be uncovered gradually through sustained practice.
“There is Buddha in each one of us, what we need is to ignite it,” the DC said. Assembly Speaker T N Thongduk in his deliberation stressed on the Buddha teachings and path to develop love, compassion and generosity which helps in maintaining a good commul harmony and unity in the region. At msai district, Deputy Chief Minister Chow Mein joined the celebrations organised by the Pariyatti Sasa Buddha Vihara. He took part in the religious procession around msai town along with Parliamentary Secretary Chow Zingnu mchoom, Ven Aggadhamma Mahathero, abott of the Pariyatti Sasa Buddha Vihara, besides a host of monks and devotees.Mein termed the day as a very important and auspicious day for the Buddhist community. “We are Buddhist by birth but still ignorant about many facets of the religion and its philosophy,” he said and called for better propagation and imparting teachings on the same.
Mein expressed the need for preservation and promotion of Buddhist religious culture. “msai district is an abode of Theravada Buddhism but people do not practice the principles of Buddhism and was particularly concerned about the rampant hunting of wild animals,”the deputy chief minister said and called for a ban in hunting.
Mein also suggested for celebration of Buddha Jayanti on a larger scale in future and the different organisations of the community must collectively organise it. He advocated for institutiolization of the Buddhist Viharas so that it could diversify its services like in health and education sectors instead of remaining just centres of religious teachings. Chow Zingnu mchoom while taking part in the deliberations exhorted to follow and propagate the teachings of Lord Buddha.