Kalam to be chief guest at Buddha's Mahaparinirvana anniversary

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) President APJ Abdul Kalam will be the chief guest at a function to commemorate the 2550th anniversary of 'mahaparinirvana' of Lord Buddha, being organised at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.

''The event will mark the finale of the year-long commemoration,'' a Culture Ministry official said.

Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni has invited Lok Sabha MP Khiren Rijiju, to attend the concluding day function as a Special Guest.

In order to commemorate the event on a grand scale, the Centre had constituted a National Committee, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

An Implementation Committee to organise the commemorative events was also constituted.

The inaugural function was held on May 13 last year in the national capital and was attended by the Prime Minister.

Thereafter, as part of the year-long commemoration, an international seminar was organised at Bodg Gaya in Bihar during February 4-6 this year, which was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama.

A large number of scholars and eminent Buddhist religious leaders from India and abroad attended this seminar.

UNI