The 2,559{+t}{+h}Buddha jayanti was celebrated with reverence on Monday.
At a function organised by the district administration near YMCA on the Beach Road, monks from Bodh Gaya — Dhammananda Bante and Sumidha Bhodi — delivered the ‘Dhamma Sandesam’.
Collector N. Yuvaraj said that the centuries-old Buddhist monuments and tourist places would be developed. Steps were being taken to provide basic infrastructure for tourists and pilgrims at Thotlakonda, Baavikonda, and Bojjannakond, he said.
He released a book on Gautam Buddha’s message, written by Reka Krishnarjuna Rao. A cultural programme presented by the Kusuma Haranath Music and Dance Academy depicted Gautam Buddha’s philosophy.
District Tourism Officer A. Siri and APTDC Divisional Manager Bheema Sankaram participated.
At a function at Andhra University, Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju garlanded a photograph of the Buddha.
Registrar V. Umamaheswara Rao said a great personality like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar served the country through Buddhism. Prof. Raju released a book — Buddha Dharma, written by Controller of Examinations D. Nataraj.
Research
At a function at GITAM University, Vice-Chancellor G. Subramanyam said that the Buddha was an influential spiritual teacher during and after his lifetime.
Research being done by the nuclear science faculty along with BARC on Buddhist sites was expected to give more details, he said.
