Grand Celebrations Mark Buddha Purnima in India

Videos from news agency ANI showed people taking holy dips in the River Ganga and River Yamuna in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh and Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

23rd May 2024

By Harjeet Kaur Chabra

On 23rd May, devotees from India and abroad participated in a grand procession in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, to celebrate Buddha Purnima, the 2568th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Bodh Gaya is a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, becoming the Buddha.

In addition to Bodh Gaya, many devotees were seen at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir temple. Videos from news agency ANI showed people taking holy dips in the River Ganga and River Yamuna in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh and Haridwar, Uttarakhand, marking the auspicious occasion.

Buddha Purnima, also known as Buddha Jayanti or Vesak, is an annual celebration on the first full moon of the Hindu calendar month Vaishakha. This day commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who was born around 563 BC in Lumbini, now in Nepal. Buddhists worldwide celebrate this day with great enthusiasm.

Sarnath, near Varanasi, is another important site where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. It attracts pilgrims from around the world due to its historical significance.

In Haridwar, the Uttarakhand Police posted on social media about the large crowds at the Ganga ghats, including Har ki Pauri, ensuring that people could bathe comfortably and in an orderly manner. Karan Singh Nagnyal, IG of Garhwal Range, reviewed the arrangements at Har ki Pauri, expecting a large number of devotees. He mentioned that from 1 am onwards, security forces would manage the crowd, and heavy vehicles would be restricted during the daytime until the ‘Arti’ ceremony was over.

“Our whole effort is to ensure that people bathe comfortably and in an orderly manner and then proceed to their destinations,” the Uttarakhand Police stated.