30,000 people embrace Buddhism in Karnataka

Gulbarga, Oct 14: Over 30,000 people here today embraced Buddhism in a massive congregation, organised on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar converting to the religion.

International Buddhist Youth Organisation President Bhante Bodhi Dhamma solemnised the ceremony by making the converts take pledge of abstaining from stealing, intoxication, illicit sexual relationships and lying, and practicing meditation.

Prominent among those who embraced Buddhism were senior Dalit leaders Shivaram Mogha, Vittal Dodamani, Arjun Hatagundi and Anna Komate. Former Union Minister V Srinivas Prasad and KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge attended the function.

Addressing the congregation, Mr Prasad deplored that untouchability and inequality still existed in Hinduism and exhorted the gathering to pursue the path of Gautham Buddha.

Mr Kharge lamented that the caste system in Hinduism did away with unity and equality and asked the people to practice Buddhist principles.

Later talking to UNI, Mr Dhamma said a training centre to teach the people how to pursue Buddhism and meditation was coming up here.

Besides, a Buddha temple was also being constructed at Kusunoor in the district, which would be the first Buddhist spiritual place in the region.

He said a similar congregation would be held in Jalandhar in Punjab on October 29, in which over one lakh people would embrace Buddhism.

UNI