Jajpur/Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Wednesday said the International Buddhist Conference will help in the development of Buddhist tourism while spreading the message of peace and compassion across the world. The land of Odisha has always progressed along the path of spirituality and that the State Government is making sustained efforts in this direction, he said while attending the conference on its fourth day.
The State government is preparing a comprehensive plan for the integrated development, heritage conservation, and modern historical research of major Buddhist sites such as Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Udayagiri, Jirang, and Dhauli. To rejuvenate Odisha’s rich Buddhist culture, the State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Light of Buddha Foundation. A special expert committee is being constituted for the development of Buddhism, and emphasis is being laid on connecting Odisha to India’s Buddhist Tourism Circuit. Steps have also been initiated for the development of the Jirang Mahavihara, she added.
The second Guru Padmasambhava Prayer Ceremony and the International Buddhist Conference is being celebrated with great enthusiasm at Udayagiri through the joint efforts of the State Government’s Department of Culture, Department of Tourism, and the Jajpur district administration.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Odia Language, Literature and Culture Suryabanshi Suraj said the organisation of the Guru Padmasambhava Ceremony has significantly helped in disseminating the teachings of Buddhism and in widely promoting Odisha’s rich Buddhist heritage. He noted that Buddhist devotees from across India and abroad have participated in this ceremony. The Minister highlighted that Odisha holds historical evidence of Guru Padmasambhava’s association with Vajrayana Buddhism and that several lesser-known aspects of Buddhist history in the state are now being brought to public attention. He congratulated and appreciated the researchers for their scholarly efforts in uncovering and presenting these hidden dimensions of Buddhist heritage.
The International Buddhist Conference, which will continue till January 16, has witnessed participation of over 1,700 Buddhist followers, monks, and tourists from India and abroad. A scholarly discussion session on the historical links between Odisha and Guru Padmasambhava was also held, followed by a cultural programme in the evening. The discussion featured Richard Dixey of the Light of Buddha Foundation, French Indologist Dr. Frédéric Maronval, eminent writer and researcher Prabir Pattanayak, researcher Dr. Anita Sabat, Professor Rahul Ravi Rao, and Lama Tenzin Samphel.
Barachana MLA Amar Kumar Nayak, Director of Tourism Dipankar Mahapatra, District Collector Ambar Kumar Kar, Buddhist Guru from Jirang Jigme Rinpoche, and Head of Light of Buddha Foundation Wangmo Dixey, among others, were present.
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