Monks & followers mark Buddha's birth anniversary with chants and meditation

May 24, 2024

Lumbini (Nepal), May 24 (ANI): Thousands of devotees and monks celebrated the 2568th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the light of Asia, at his birthplace in Nepal’s Lumbini. Nearly 100 monks, half of them from the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), India, held a special prayer next to the pond in the Maya Devi Temple premises for world peace. Joined by hundreds of others, the monks then rallied to the International Buddhist Conference to celebrate the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha. The event, organized by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in cooperation with the Lumbini Development Trust, was also attended by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Buddhist communities around the world, including in Nepal, observe this day with great reverence. The birth anniversary of Buddha, the apostle of non-violence and peace, is observed by conducting special prayer ceremonies by spiritual leaders and gurus at monasteries. Buddha, considered the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was born on Shukla Purnima of the Baisakh month in the lunar calendar.