Plan for anniversary of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana

    New Delhi: The National Committee for the commemoration of the 2550th anniversary of Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha held its first meeting in New Delhi today. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh chaired the meeting and instructed the Ministry of Culture to constitute an implementing committee to chalk out the programme for the commemoration year. The commemoration year will start from May 10, 2006.

    Union Urban Development and Culture Minister Jaipal Reddy said that an international conference on heritage of Nalanda is being organised in Nalanda from February 12 to 14 this year. About 300 prominent Buddhist scholars, monks and other dignitaries from abroad would attend the conference, he said. Reddy also stated that the government is also supporting three eminent Buddhist Educational Institutes in Leh, Saranath and Nalanda. He said that there is also a scheme under operation to maintain and repair the Buddhist monasteries and educational Institutions. Minister of State for Tourism Renuka Chowdhary informed the committee members of the Tourism Ministry's efforts in promoting the Buddhist Heritage sites. The members who attended the national committee meeting include UPA chair person Sonia Gandhi, Chief Ministers of Bihar and Sikkim, Dr. Karan Singh, Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, Professor Bhalchandra Mungekar, Member, Planning Commission, Lama Lobzang, Member, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Members of Parliament Khiren Rijiju, Dawa Narbula, N.D. Rai, R.S.Gavai and others.

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