Buddha Jayanti celebrations will be muted this year too, thanks to COVID-19. The Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) has decided to limit the Jayanti and only light 2565 butter lamps and recite the ceremonial Paritraan.
Before the pandemic, international-level programmes would be held in Lumbini to mark the birth of Lord Gautam Buddha which would be attended by the head of state and diplomats. However, this year, the Trust has decided to not hold any formal programmes on the occasion of 2565th Buddha Jayanti on Wednesday.
According to Sanu Raja Shakya, member secretary LDT, last year too, the day was marked by only conducting essential pujas and lighting lamps. “It will be observed the same way this year too because of the coronavirus,” he said.
“We were preparing to celebrate the festival in a grand manner this year. But we had to cancel everything because of the second COVID-19 wave and the subsequent restrictions imposed,” Shakya said.
This year, Buddha Jayanti will begin with representatives of different Buddhist monasteries gathering on the premises of the Mayadevi Temple on Wednesday morning. There, the President and the Prime Minister will present their messages and conduct worship ceremonies. Monks will recite Paritraan in the morning and in the evening, traditional lamps will be lit in memory of all those who lost their lives to COVID-19. “We will also pray for the quick recovery of all the infected individuals,” Shakya shared.
Baisakh Purnima is considered a very auspicious day in Buddhism, because it is the day Siddhartha Gautam was born in Lumbini, Nepal and also the day he achieved enlightenment and the day he attained salvation Mahaparinirvan at the age of 80.
Gautam Buddha is called the light of Asia and is considered by many around the world as the greatest advocate of peace. Buddha Jayanti has been a national holiday in Nepal since 1951.
Source : THE RISING NEPAL,
