Gyalwa Karmapa Celebrated Buddha Purnima With About 800 Monks In New Delhi

About 800 monks and lamas from all over India and also from Tibet and Nepal celebrated Buddha Purnima in Delhi under the guidance of His Holiness, 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism on Thursday, May 27. This year the date of the Buddha Purnima as per the Hindu calendar has coincided with that of the Tibetan calendar and this has happened for the first time according to the South Asia Buddhist Association. An association member said, “This makes the day very auspicious. This is why monks and lamas from all over the country, and Nepal and Tibet gather here to offer prayers and perform ceremonial practices.”

On this occasion, special prayers were organized at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute located in the Qutab Institutional Area of South Delhi by the association.

The prayers commenced at 11:30 a.m. and continued till evening. An association member said, “After the prayers, we gave floral tributes to Lord Buddha, which is a part of our tradition.”

The date of Buddha Purnima falls on a full moon night in Vaisakha month which is either April or May. This day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.

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