Today, the National Museum will host a celebration of Ashadha Purnima by the International Buddhist Confederation
Ashadha Purnima will be celebrated in the National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi, on July 3 as the Dharma Chakra Pravartana Divas under the auspices of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), according to a statement from the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India.
After the Buddha Purnima or the Vaishakha Purnima, it is the second most important day for Buddhists and the IBC’s yearly signature event. President Droupadi Murmu will give a video speech during the programme. The press announcement said that the presentation of the movie about the “India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage”—an IBC special project in Lumbini, Nepal—would be the centrepiece of the evening.
On Buddh Purnima last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed the center’s foundational stone in Lumbini, Nepal.
The event will include a Dhamma discourse by His Holiness, the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa, on the importance of Ashadha Purnima as well as a Special Address by Minister of Culture and External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi, it was announced.
The occasion will include participation from several additional dignitaries, including the Patriarchs of Buddhist Sanghas, illustrious Masters, Scholars, and diplomatic officials residing in New Delhi, it was announced.
According to the press release, IBC is organising the Ashadha Purnima festivities at the National Museum, Janpath, where Sakhyamuni’s Holy relic is housed, in line with the historical tradition of India, the country where Buddha attained enlightenment, turned the wheels of Dhamma, and attained Mahaparinirvana.
Buddha delivered his first sermon and launched the dharma there at Sarnath. According to the Indian lunar calendar, Ashadha Purnima, the auspicious day that coincides with the full moon of that month, is also known as Esala Poya in Sri Lanka and Asanha Bucha in Thailand. According to a press release, on the full moon day of Ashadha, the Buddha gave his first instruction to the first five ascetic followers (pancavargiya) at “Deer Park,” Risipatana Mrigadaya in modern-day Sarnath, close to Varanasi, India.
The Monks and Nuns’ Rainy Season retreat (Varsha Vassa), which lasts for three lunar months from July to October, also begins on this day. During this time, they dwell in one location, often in their temples designed for intense meditation. According to the statement, both Buddhists and Hindus honour the day as Guru Purnima as a day to show respect for their gurus.
