A symbolic tribute to one of India’s greatest rulers is on its way to the city. A ten-foot statue of Emperor Ashoka—celebrated for renouncing violence after the Kalinga War and dedicating his life to spreading Buddhism—will arrive in Nagpur on September 29, announced Bhante Arya Nagarjun Surei Sasai, President of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti.
The statue began its journey on September 7 from Kollam, Kerala, as part of the Ashoka-Ambedkar Dhamma Yatra, led by Dr Bharti Guru of the Narayana Guru Memorial Trust. Nearly 30 delegates are accompanying the yatra, which has already passed through Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, and multiple cities in Maharashtra.
On September 30, with support from Dr Vinod Rangari, the statue will be taken in a procession across different Buddha Viharas of Nagpur. The following day, October 1, it will be ceremonially handed over to representatives from Odisha at Deekshabhoomi during the Dhammadiksha celebrations. Bhante Sasai noted that the event would resonate with chants of Dhammavijaya to honour the legacy of Ashoka and Ambedkar.
The statue’s final destination will be the Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) at Dhauli, Odisha, built by a Japanese organisation at the site of the historic Kalinga War in 261 BCE. It was here that the devastating conflict transformed Ashoka’s path, leading him to adopt Buddhism and devote his reign to peace and the Dhamma. The installation of this statue at Dhauli will stand as a reminder of that profound change and its lasting impact on history.
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