Make Buddha's Mahaparinirvana celebration meaningful: Apang

Itanagar, May 19 (UNI) The year-long celebration of the 2550th anniversary of Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha should live a long lasting impact, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has said.

Suggesting a number of programmes during the celebration, Mr Apang called for multifarious approach to the observation, focusing on the laymen and involving people from other faiths and community besides monks and other religious leaders. He was chairing the first state level celebration committee meeting here yesterday, official sources said here today.

The chief minister proposed an implementation committee to be headed by MLA Rev. T G Rimpoche, which would chalk out programme and events for the year-long celebration. He cautioned that the celebration should not be just another VIP function but a step towards spreading the messages of Lord Buddha on love, peace and compassion.

While suggesting for essay writing competitions on the life and teachings of Lord Buddha, on the spot drawing and painting competitions and also wood curving competition where tribal craftsmen, even from Tirap and Changlang districts could take part, Mr Apang suggested publishing booklet and pamphlets on Lord Buddha's teachings in different dialects.

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