Dhammachakra Pravartan day celebrations tomorrow

Nagpur, Oct 20 (UNI) The 51st Dhammachakra Pravartan day commemorating the anniversary of the father of the Indian Constitution, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, embracing Buddhism, will be observed here tomorrow.

The main function would be held at the historic 'Deekshabhoomi' tomorrow evening, Sadanand Fulzele, secretary of the Parampujya Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial Committee, which organises the function every year, told UNI.

Union Minister for Power Sushilkumar Shinde, Orissa Governor Muralidhar Bhandare, Planning Commission member Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar and Bihar Legislative Assembly speaker Udaynarayan Chaudhari would be the guests of honour at the function, Mr Fulzele said. State BJP President Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Minister for Labour Satish Chaturvedi and Nagpur Mayor Maya Iwnate would also be among those present, he said.

Bihar Governor R S Gavai, who is also the Chairman of the organising committee, would preside over the function, Mr Fulzele informed.

Earlier in the day, devotees would offer prayers at Deekshabhoomi, he said adding that the programmes held during the anniversary celebrations including a women's conference, a religious symposium and cultural programmes.

Meanwhile, Mr Shinde is scheduled to arrive here for the function by special aircraft from New Delhi tomorrow afternoon, according to an official press release here. Mr Shinde would return to New Delhi by service flight tomorrow evening. Dr Mungekar and Mr Gavai were already in the city, it said.

Similarly, Mr Bhandare and Mr Chaudhari would arrive here tomorrow, and leave for New Delhi and Kolkata respectively on Monday, a release added.

Dr Ambedkar embraced Buddhism along with lakhs of followers at Deekshabhoomi here on October 14, 1956, which coincided with Dussera. Since then, the anniversary of the historic event is marked with a huge congregation of devotees at the same venue on Dussera every year.

UNI