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Odisha Hosts International Tipitaka Annual Chanting Ceremony





Odisha Hosts International Tipitaka Annual Chanting Ceremony

Ratnagiri, December 22: In a first-of-its kind event in Odisha, where all the three yanas of Buddhism-Mahayana, Theravada, Bajarayana-have come together, the International Tipitaka Annual Chanting Ceremony started on 19 December at Ratnagiri and Udaygiri.

The three day long chanting and meditation programme is organised by the Tourism department of Odisha in collaboration with California based Light of Buddha Dharma Foundation International, (LBDFI) in a bid to promote Buddhism and world peace. The event saw the participation of around 117 monks from China, Thailand, Myanmar, Tibet, Taiwan, Nagpur and Sikkim.

Sharing about the objective of organising the event in India, Wangmo Dixey, President of International Buddhist Association of America and Executive Director of LBDF, said, “The sound of Buddhist teachings came back alive in India. We have been travelling to all the sacred sites in India. We started with Sarnathand then went to New Delhi, Sankasya, Kushnigara, Sravasti, Vaishali, Boudhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and finally concluded the programme here in Odisha. Almost 2600 years since Lord Buddha passed away, we believe that this is the right time for the light of dharma to come back to India.”

“The Buddha dharma spread from the mother land of India. The seed of the enlightenment emerged here and it spread in all the directions across the world. We came back to India as we wish to bring the living Sangha and monks together as they are the ones who keep and protect the teachings of Lord Buddha. All the monks visited Ratangiri and Lalitgiri to unite and promote Buddhism in Odisha,” averred Dixey. She added that the teachings of Buddha are enlightened words and are precious to be announced here in Odisha.

Stating that Odisha was one of the important places where all the three yanas of Buddhism existed, she said, “First we have to associate ourselves with the sounds of the chants. There was a time when chants of the monks used to echo through the walls of these ruins. Now there is no living heritage, only monuments. When we go back to these sites, we need to recollect our heritage. These ruins are our roots and we should protect them to make it a living heritage.”

Dixey, who is overwhelmed with the support she received from Odisha, is now planning to make the Tipitaka chanting an annual event in Odisha. “We are planning to conduct this next year also and involve more monks from various places,” she informed.

Monk Buddhaditya who belongs to Odisha and was initiated into Buddhism in Bangalore also shared his views. He said, “The main objective of the programme is to bring monks from various parts of the world and conduct the chantings. Buddhism in Odisha has the influence of all the three yanas and after centuries of chanting from three yanas echoed in the premises of these heritage sites.”

Hailing from Thailand Monk Prasit said, “Ratnagiri and Lalitgiri are amazing sites. Chanting our prayers amidst ruins of old legacy helped us to connect with our past in a significant way.”

“Such events would help for a link establishment with other important Buddhist sites. It would attract Buddhists monks, scholars, teachers, students and other Buddhist communities. We want to popularise the Buddhists sites through such events, so that monks would visit them in larger numbers,” said Sunil Patnaik, assistant director of tourism department and secreatary of Odisha Institute of Maritime and South Asain Studies (OIMSAS).

With Department of Tourism Odisha trying its best promote all the important Buddhist sites in the state, such massive chanting programmes may attract more monks and Buddhist communities from across the world in future, which in turn would help to boost Odisha tourism.

Pictures by: Rakesh Roul 

Author: Monalisa patsani

Being into journalism since 2012, Monalisa loves listening to people and narrate their stories. She has been exploring different genres of journalism, but writing about the environment, places and people suits her interest.

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