On the auspicious occasion of the 2,568th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, a grand procession was held in Bodh Gaya, located in the Gaya district of Bihar, on Thursday morning. Thousands of devotees from various states and countries, including Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Tibet, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Bhutan, gathered for the event. A key highlight of the procession was the devotees carrying the Panchsheel flag while chanting the slogan “Buddham Sharanam Gachchami.”
In addition to celebrating Lord Buddha’s birth anniversary, the devotees also observed Trividh Jayanti. This significant day marks three important events: Lord Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment, and his Mahaparinirvana, all of which are believed to have taken place on Vaishakh Purnima.
A large crowd lined the streets to witness the grand procession, which traveled through various points before concluding at the Mahabodhi Temple, a World Heritage Site. The journey began near the impressive 80-feet-tall statue of Lord Buddha.
Speaking with ANI, Bhante Aryapal, a Buddhist monk and participant in the procession, said, “Today we are celebrating the 2,568th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha along with the Trividh Jayanti, because on this occasion of Vaishakh Purnima, he was born, attained enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana, which is not possible for any common man. Such an alignment of events is extraordinary and not possible for an ordinary person. That is the reason why we are celebrating Trividh Jayanti too.” He added, “We are also praying to Lord Buddha to bring peace and welfare to the entire world. Devotees from many countries including Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Tibet, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Bhutan, have participated in the procession.”
Buddha Purnima is the most significant day for the Buddhist community as it commemorates the three crucial events in Buddha’s life: his birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana.
