50,000 people to embrace Buddhism on Oct 1

Nagpur, Sep 21 (UNI) Fifty thousand people beloning to the Vanjara, Matang and Other Backward Castes (OBCs) will embrace Buddhism at Diksha Bhoomi here on October 1.

The event will be led by litterateur Laxman Mani and other leaders to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the landmark event, when Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar led his followers to embrace Buddhism on this very date in 1956.

Speaking at the meet-the-press programme, organised by the Nagpur Union of Working Journalists (NUWJ), Japanese-born Indian monk Bhante Arya Nagarjun Surai Sasai today said the Golden Jubilee year of embracing Buddhism was being celebrated in a grand way and various programmes are being organised from yesterday till October 4, the Vijaya Dashmi day.

On October 1 'Shramners' (new monks) will participate in a big rally spreading Lord Buddha's message of peace. Apart from Indian monks, 37 delegates from the US, seven from England, five from Australia, 22 from Thailand, ten from Vietnam and 25 from Japan will also participate in the rally, he added.

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