Main Programme of 68th Dhammachakra Pravartan Din Set for Saturday
The Dhamma Deeksha programme, part of the 68th Dhammachakra Pravartan Din celebrations, will begin at Deekshabhoomi on Thursday at 9:30 am. Deeksha will be conferred upon the Bhikkhu Sangh, ‘upasak’, and ‘shramner’. The programme will run for three days, after which certificates will be awarded to the participants.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti will host the main event on Saturday at 6 pm. The President of Bhikkhu Sangh from Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, Bhadant A. A. B. Dnyaneshwar, will be the chief guest of the programme.
Akash Lamba, promoter of Mahabodhi Mahavihar Mukti Andolan, will be the guest of honour at the event. Additionally, Adv. Shailendra Narnaware, who is representing the case for acquiring additional land for Deekshabhoomi in the High Court, has also been invited as a guest of honour. Prominent representatives from other Bhikkhu Sanghs will also attend. Bhante Dnyaneshwar, a disciple of Mahasthwir Chandramani, who had administered deeksha to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, will also be present, informed Arya Nagarjun Surei Sasai, president of the samiti.
Bhadant Sasai will hoist the Panchsheel flag on October 11 at 9 am in the presence of Samata Sainik Dal workers. In the evening, a program featuring Buddh and Bhim songs will be held at 6 pm, followed by dance and drama performances of “Angulimaal” and “Agrapali.” On October 12, Bhadant Sasai will participate in a mass Buddh Vandana at 9 am.
Meanwhile, a Buddha Vandana will be held on October 14 at 9 am at Deekshabhoomi in the presence of Bhadant Sasai to commemorate the occasion when Dr. Ambedkar took deeksha from Mahasthwir Chandramani on October 14, 1956. The samiti has also urged Buddhists to organize Buddha Vandana programmes in Buddh Vihars across the city at the same time.
Dr Itankar reviews arrangements
District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar inspected the arrangements being made for visitors attending the 68th Dhammachakra Pravartan Din programme at Deekshabhoomi. He was accompanied by Joint Commissioner of Police Nisar Tamboli, Deputy Commissioners of Police Dr. Vijay Rathod, Lohit Matani, Archit Chandak, Resident Deputy Collector Anoop Khande, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Milind Meshram, and other concerned officers. Dr. Itankar toured Deekshabhoomi to review the preparations and issued specific instructions to the officials.
Joint Commissioner of Police Nisar Tamboli discussed various arrangements with District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar, including the setup of the main stage, barricades, toilets, health services, security cameras, and police deployment.