At Buddhavanam, which is a Buddhist theme park on the river’s northern bank, the contestants explored a series of installations and monuments dedicated to the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha.
Hyderabad:Miss World contestants from 22 Asian and Oceanic nations visited Buddhavanam in Nagarjunasagar, as part of a cultural tour for Buddha Purnima on Monday. Before entering the park, the group stood in formation, turned to the cameras, and said, “Hello world, Namaste, Telangana zaroor aana.”
The visit was organised to give participants a deeper understanding of Buddhist philosophy and India’s ancient connections to peace and introspection. Officials from the tourism department escorted the group from Hyderabad to Nagarjunasagar. The journey included a brief halt where the contestants posed for photographs at Vijay Vihar beside the Krishna River.
A team of Lambada performers welcomed the group with a traditional dance near the Stupa. Dr Shivanagi Reddy, from the archaeology and tourism departments, walked the group through the site’s elements, from Jataka Park to the Stupa Vanam and explained how each section represented phases of Buddha’s life.
At Buddhavanam, which is a Buddhist theme park on the river’s northern bank, the contestants explored a series of installations and monuments dedicated to the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha. They placed flowers at the Buddha’s feet, lit lamps inside the Mahastupa, and sat in silence for a meditation session. Discussions on mental health also formed an important part of their activities their.
Deepu Sangapala, a monk from the Mahabodhi Society in Secunderabad, joined the event after completing a programme at his own vihara. “I was invited to say a few words on the importance of the day. Some of them came forward to receive blessings. It felt meaningful to speak about Dhamma to people from so many places gathered here in Telangana,” he said. He later added that the event had originally been planned for next Sunday, but was preponed to align with Buddha Purnima.
The tour ended with a short theatre performance based on episodes from the Jataka tales. District Collector Ila Tripathi, SP Sharath Chandra Pawar, and local elected leaders joined the event.
