President inaugurates Global Vipassana Pagoda in Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb. 8 (ANI): President Pratibha Devisingh Patil has inaugurated the Global Vipassana Pagoda at Gorai in Mumbai on Sunday.

The 325 feet tall pagoda structure has been established by the Global Pagoda Foundation to promote the practice of Vipassana.

Vipasana in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the nature of reality.

The centre of the Global Pagoda boasts of the world's largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars.

The Pagoda is hollow from inside, and this portion serves as a very large meditation hall for over 8000 people enabling them to practice Vipassana meditation as taught by Acharya Goenka.

Lord Buddha's bone relics have been enshrined in the central locking stone of the dome.

The grand size and the architectural style of the pagoda is aimed at reinforce India's global image on spiritual tourism map. (ANI)