Hyderabad: Buddha Purnima, the most important day in the Buddhist calendar, celebrates in Vihara, located in Mahendra Hills. At that time, Gaotamabu was born, achieved enlightenment and obtained Mahaparinirvana (last death), and hundreds of devotees and monks gathered in Vihara.
Sariputta M., 67, a Buddhist monk from Dammaiguda, explained: “Today is very special for Buddhists because there were three important events on this day – the Buddha was born, and he was inspired to accept Mahaparinirvana. That’s why we celebrate with prayer and peace on this day,” he said.
The celebration begins in the morning, with chanting and special prayers near the Bodhi tree, which is said to be the seedling of the original tree where the Buddha gained enlightenment. The monks lead the Pindapatha Dana ceremony, a traditional food that devotees provide to the monks. Visitors pay tribute to the stupa, meditate and provide flowers.
All day, the devotees come to Vihara. Free Food As part of Annadanam, devotees participated in meditation meetings and talks about the Dharma.
Volunteers ensure that the waste is carefully isolated from plastic, paper and biodegradable waste. “We make sure the plastic is recycled and that the paper trays containing the plastic liner are separated before being sent to the recycler or incinerator,” said Sanjeeva, who helped the event.
Madhusudhan A., a 49-year-old private organization manager, visited Vihara with his colleagues, and told Deccan Chronicle: “We were here for the first time today and after we came here we realized it was Buddha Purnima. We were really lucky. Our colleagues and my sympathizers, I started seeking peace and also attended meditation sessions.”
There is also a special book called “The Buddha and His Followers”, written by Bhagavad Gita Goswami and translated in Telugu by J. Harsha Meenakshi during the day. Former MP Venkateswara Narayani also shared the latest news about the upcoming Vishakhara meditation center, which is expected to open within a few months.
The temple reason also built several small stupas to commemorate the great teacher. The whole day was filled with dedication, spiritual learning and community service, reminding everyone of the message of peace, compassion and mindfulness of the Buddha.
