"Jerusalem is a festival and a lamentation. Its song is a sigh across the
ages, a delicate, robust, mournful psalm at the great junction of spiritual cultures."
David K Shipler
Like Jerusalem, Festivals and Events in Bodhgaya too might prove to be a festival
and a lamentation for the modern world knows only to celebrate outwardly and
lacks the power to delve in to the core, the inner meaning of a gala. Though
according to Buddha, "Ahimsa Parama Dharma", yet we don't practise
peace (Ahimsa) and go for unnecessary violence. However, during the time of
celebration, it's indeed become a moment for joy and happiness and such intellectual
thoughts like whether it's a mournful psalm at the great junction of spiritual
cultures are left back.
In the month of April, Bodhgaya celebrates Buddha Jayanti, which falls on the
full moon night in the month of Vaisakha (according to Hindu calendar). This
magnificent gala commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. During this
time pilgrims come from all over the world to attend the celebrations without
caring for the summer heat. Buddha Jayanti is marked with prayer meets, sermons
on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourses, continuous recitation of
Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions, worship of the statue of
Buddha and symposia. At this time, Festivals and Events in Bodhgaya in the form
of Buddha Jayanti presents Mahabodhi Temple with a festive look and decoration
with colorful flags and flowers.
Festivals and Events in Bodhgaya encompass the birth anniversary of Anagrika
Dharmapala in the month of September. Besides, the birth and death anniversaries
of Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14th April and 6th December are also observed in this
city. On 6th August, Hiroshima Day is celebrated here.
Moreover, there is another unique event named the Kalachakra ceremony which
is held for about ten days each year and presided over by his Holiness the XIVth
Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal head of Tibetan Buddhists.
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