Tripura Buddhists pray for Nepal quake victims

Hundred of Buddhists in the north-eastern Indian state of Tripura attended the International Buddha Purnima Diwas celebrations in capital Agartala on Monday, offering prayers for the quake-hit people of Nepal, Gautama Buddha’s birthplace.

Devotees converged on the Benuban Vihar monastery here to light candles and offer prayers on the 2559th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha and prayed for Nepal’s distressed people.
 
A special prayer was held for the early recovery of the injured and the peace of those killed by the catastrophe.
 
Buddha Purnima, the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar, is celebrated across the world.
 
“Buddha preached love and friendship for all and we celebrate Buddha Jayanti to spread this message, besides his message of universal peace.
 
This year, an earthquake has devastated Kathmandu and the whole of Nepal. We are praying for those affected there,” said Akshay Bhante, the chief monk of the monastery. 
 
Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on the full-moon day of Vaisakh (Hindu calendar year first month that fall on April-May) blessed by the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Lord Buddha. 
This strange, three-fold, coincidence makes Buddha Purnima unique.
 
“There is no religious barrier here. People from all religion be it Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu, no one is stopped. Here we come to pray for peace,” said Monika Barua a devotee.
 
On this day not only Buddhists but people from other religions, too, gather in monasteries and pray for peace.
 
They also participate in the celebrations spreading the message of universal good.
 
The Benuban Vihar monastery of Agartala was built by the Manikya’s during the princely times and is considered an important Buddhist pilgrim centre.
 
Tripura has a 200,000 Buddhist population, mainly belonging to the Mog, Chakma, Barua and Uchoi communities and practice Theraavada Buddhism.