NEPAL: Thousands gather in Swayambhunath Stupa to mark Buddhism's holiest day and celebrate Vesak, or "Buddha Day"

Record ID: 861980

  • Title: NEPAL: Thousands gather in Swayambhunath Stupa to mark Buddhism's holiest day and celebrate Vesak, or "Buddha Day"
  • Date: 7th May 2012
  • Summary: LIGHTING OF BUTTER FED LAMPS DURING WORSHIPPING CEREMONY PEOPLE CIRCLING SMALL MANES KEPT TO WORSHIP /PRAYER WHEELS NEPALESE PRESIDENT RAM BARAN YADAV OFFICIALLY INAUGURATING BUDDHA JAYANTI BY LIGHTING TRADITIONAL LAMP MONKS RECITING SANSKRIT TEXT AS RESPECT TO BUDDHA VARIOUS OF YADAV AND NEPALESE PRIME MINISTER BABURAM BHATTARAI TALKING WHILE SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) NEPALESE PRIME MINISTER, BABURAM BHATTARAI, SAYING: "World peace and the message of the liberation of humanity, which originated 2,556 years ago, does not end with Nepal and the continent of Asia, rather it has become the common message of all five continents." PEOPLE LOOKING AT EXHIBIT SHOWING BONE PRESERVED FROM BUDDHA VARIOUS CLOSE ON GLASS JAR WHICH I SAID TO CONTAIN BONE PRESERVED FROM BUDDHA MORE OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT BONE INSIDE GLASS JAR (SOUNDBITE) (Nepali) NEPALESE PRESIDENT, RAM BARAN YADAV, SAYING: "I feel the message of Lord Buddha for peace and non-violence is much more appropriate in the world today." EXTERIOR OF SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA COMPLEX
  • Embargoed: 22nd May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal
  • City:
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA8LSTMXNNUL23B292ZH6L2DEHH
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Thousands of devotees gathered on Sunday (May 6) at the Swayambhunath Stupa, an ancient religious complex Kathmandu Valley to mark one of Tibetan Buddhism's holiest days, the anniversary of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.
    Celebrations are held on the first full moon in the month May or Baishakh.
    "We are here to celebrate this occasion given today is the birthday -- the day of nirvana and the day he achieved Buddhism and also today being the full moon," said Sanubhai Bajracharya, a resident of Bhaktapur, the third largest city of Kathmandu Valley.
    A ceremony near the temple was attended by the country's president and prime minister.
    "World peace and the message of the liberation of humanity, which originated 2,556 years ago, does not end with Nepal and the continent of Asia, rather it has become the common message of all five continents," Nepalese Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said.
    Meanwhile, President Ram Baran Yadav said Buddha's message is just as relevant today.
    "I feel the message of Lord Buddha for peace and non-violence is much more appropriate in the world today."
    Buddha is worshipped and revered as a god across the Asian and Sun Asian continents.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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