Buddha Jayanti — the 2565th birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha — is being observed across the country by commemorating his contribution to the establishment of world peace.
Buddha, regarded as the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu (Hindu deity), was born on Shukla Purnima of Baisakha, the first month in the Lunar Calendar. There is a coincidence that Buddha was born, enlightened and achieved Mahaparinirwan (passing away) on the same dates on the Lunar Calendar. The Buddhist communities in the world including Nepal observe the Day with much reverence.
The birth anniversary of Buddha, the apostle of non-violence and peace, is being observed with limited spiritual leaders and gurus at monasteries in view of the prohibitory orders enforced to contain COVID-19 this year.
Various programmes used to be held at Lumbini (the birthplace of Buddha), Swayambhu and Bouddha (in Kathmandu) on Buddha Jayanti before the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year too, the celebration was limited by the pandemic.
Various Buddhist organisations in the Bouddhanath area have decided to conduct only the puja at monasteries, according to Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward 6 Chair Dipendra Kumar Lama.
Siddhartha Gautam, who was born in the royal family of King Suddhodhan and Queen Mayadevi had left his palace at the age of 29 years for penance. Prince Siddhartha Gautam became well known as 'Gautam Buddha after he was enlightened. As Buddha started preaching the sermon on non-violence and peace after attaining Nirvana, he is revered as 'Light of Asia'.
At present Buddhist philosophy is taught in internationally acclaimed universities like Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. There are also MA level programmes on Buddhist philosophy at Tribhuvan University, Nepal Sanskrit University, Lumbini Bauddha University in Nepal.
The teaching and sermons given by Lord Buddha during his lifetime of 80 years are collected in Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma and Tripitaka.
