Chhatrapati Sambahjinagar: Thousands of followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar thronged Dhammabhumi, at the foothills of Aurangabad Caves on Tuesday to commemorate ‘Dhammachakra Pravartan Din.
Dressed in white clothes, they were rushing in flocks towards Dhammabhumi through the road between Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University and the caves.
There were long queues all day long for ‘Abhivadan’ before the idols of Lord Buddha and Dr Babasaheb at Vipassana Buddha Vihara.
Many of those who came there visited the shops of various books on the thoughts of Gautam Buddha, Mahatma Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar to take knowledge home.
On both sides of the road, there were stalls of idols of Lord Buddha- Dr Ambedkar, toys, sweets, clothes. Social organisations such as Rajvardhan Social Foundation, Samvidhan Mitramandal and Bhimshakti established food donation and water distribution stalls.
The rituals started early in the morning at the grand pandal erected in front of the Vipassana Buddha Vihara, under the guidance of Bhadanta Vishuddanandabodhi Mahasthaveer. Shramner Sangha did Vipassana and meditation from 4 am to 5 pm followed by Buddha Vandana, Paritran Path.
A flag hoisting ‘Dhamma Dhwajarohan’ was held at 7 am. Members of Samata Sainik Dal paid tribute and paraded in the area. Bhikkhu Sangha gave Dhammadesana after Buddha Puja. The main programme started after the Bhikkhu Sangha Bhojan.
Bhikkhus from Japan and Thailand gave Dhammadesana. Bhadanta Vishuddanandabodhi Mahasthaveer and Bhadanta Nagsenbodhi welcomed MP Imtiaz Jalil, Commissioner of Police Manoj Lohiya, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nitin Bagate, Bhimrao Hattiambire, Suryakanta Gade, Siddhant Gade, Krishna Bankar, Thane corporator Rajabhau Tayde and others were present.
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Social activities
Many young people who came here tried to repay the social debt by donating blood. Blood was collected for Thalassemia patients here. Many people voluntarily donated blood to this initiative of the Aurangabad Thalassemia Society. Apart from this, youths thronged Blood banks of Government Medical College and Hospital, Adarsh Blood Bank and Aurangabad Blood Bank to donate blood.
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Signature Campaign
Every year, a large number of followers of Dr Ambedkar from Marathwada, Vidarbha, North Maharashtra come to Dhammabhumi on the occasion of Dhammachakra Anupravarthan Din.
In view of this, the People's Education Society (PES) Save Committee conducted a signature drive from 10 am to 5 pm, to unite citizens to save the PES.