Nagpur has a special association with Dhammachakra Pravartan Din as this is a place where many people renounce Hinduism and convert to Buddhism.
Dhammachakra Pravartan Din is observed every year to mark the day when Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar converted to Buddhism. The day is celebrated on 14 October every year with great enthusiasm by the followers of Baba Saheb.
On this day in 1956, Dr Ambedkar and approximately 365,000 followers renounced Hinduism and converted to Buddhism. Dr Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism gave new impetus to the Dalit movement in India.
On Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, many Buddhists gather at the place to celebrate the mass conversion of people to Buddhism. On this day, Dr. Ambedkar, after renouncing Hinduism in the grand ceremony that took place in Nagpur, Dr Ambedkar said, “By discarding my ancient religion which stood for inequality and oppression, today I am reborn”.
The preparation of Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, is going on with great zeal among the followers of Buddhism.