Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi attended an event organised for Abhidhamma Day in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, which saw the participation of Buddhist monks from many countries.
Please click on the images for a better look at the ceremony.
IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi, accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, at the Mahaparinirvana temple in Kushinagar on Abhidhamma Day, October 20, 2021. All Photographs: Press Information Bureau
IMAGE: Buddhists believe The Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana in 483 BC at Kushinagar.
IMAGE: Kushinagar is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists the world over and Wednesday's inauguration of the Kushinagar international airport will make travel easy for Buddhists wanting to visit the the Mahaparinirvana temple.
IMAGE: Several Union ministers accompanied Modi to the Mahaparinirvana Temple.
From Left: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Civil Aviation General Vijay Kumar Singh (retd), Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia.
IMAGE: Modi with Buddhist monks at the event organised to mark Abhidhamma Day.
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com