Buddhist Seek Peace on Buddha Purnima
Devotees gather at Buddha Vihara to mark sacred triple events of Buddha Purnima
Hyderabad: Buddha Purnima, the most important day in the Buddhist calendar, was celebrated with great devotion at the Buddha Vihara located in Mahendra Hills. Hundreds of devotees and monks gathered at the Vihara as it was on this day that Gautama Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and attained Mahaparinirvana (final passing away).
Sariputta M., a 67-year-old Buddhist monk from Dammaiguda, explained, “Today is very special for Buddhists because three important events happened on this day — Buddha was born, He was enlightened, and He attained Mahaparinirvana. That’s why we celebrate this day with prayers and peace,” he said.
The celebrations began in the morning with chanting and special prayers near the Bodhi tree, which is said to be a sapling of the original tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Monks led the Pindapatha Dana ritual, a traditional offering of food by devotees to monks. Visitors paid their respects at the stupa, meditated, and offered flowers.
Throughout the day, devotees came to the Vihara. Free food was served as part of Annadanam, and devotees participated in meditation sessions and talks on Dhamma.
Volunteers ensured that waste was carefully segregated plastic, paper, and biodegradable waste were all sorted separately. “We make sure plastic gets recycled and paper plates, which contain plastic linings, are separated before sending to recyclers or incinerators,” said Sanjeeva, an environmentalist and volunteer helping at the event.
Madhusudhan A., a 49-year-old manager in a private organisation, who visited the Vihara along with his coworker, told Deccan Chronicle: “We came here for the first time today, and after coming here we realised it’s Buddha Purnima. We feel truly blessed. My coworker and I came seeking peace and also took part in the meditation session.”
Also a special book titled ‘Buddha and His Follower’, written by Bhagavad Gita Goswami and translated into Telugu by J. Harsha Meenakshi, was released during the day. Former MP Venkateswara Narayani also shared updates about the upcoming Vishakhara meditation centre, which is expected to open in a few months.
The temple grounds also had several small stupas built in honour of great teachers. The entire day was filled with devotion, spiritual learning, and community service reminding everyone of Buddha’s message of peace, compassion, and mindfulness.