Government to ‘International Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration 2015’

NEW DELHI: The central government will officially celebrate Buddha Poornima as ‘International Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebration 2015’ on May 4 at Talkatora stadium in Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest and other Cabinet ministers will be present.

Kiren Rijiju, the minister of state for home affairs, on Wednesday said that he will be in charge of the celebrations this year, adding that a special prayer will be offered at the function for the people affected by the devastating Nepal earthquake.

"We are the home of Buddhism and a centreof spirituality," saidtheminister, who pointed out that he is the only Buddhist minister in the government. Rijiju said religious tourism will increase to India if the Buddhist circuit is developed in the country and announced that there will now be an annual celebration of Buddha Poornima under the aegis of the culture ministry.

"The way the Muslims consider Mecca, the way Catholics consider Vatican, similarly the Buddhists across the world treat India the same way as Buddha was born here and gained enlightenment here," Rijiju said.