President Murmu, VP Dhankar and PM Modi extend greetings on Buddha Purnima

PM Narendra Modi(L), Presdient Darupadi Murmu(C), Jagdeep Dhankhar(R). File pics

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar extended greetings to the citizens of India on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, reported ANI.

President Droupadi Murmu conveyed her best wishes to the citizens of India on account of Buddha Purnima. She also highlighted Lord Buddha's qualities and his teachings of non-violence and love for humanity and urged citizens to imbibe his teachings for social harmony and nation-building.

She took to her social media and said, "On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all fellow citizens and followers of Lord Buddha across the world."

She added a very well-known quote of Lord Buddha- ‘Appa Deepo Bhava' which means be a light unto yourself. She urged citizens to learn through his teachings of tolerance, self-awareness and good conduct.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar shared a similar message, urging everyone to follow Lord Buddha's eternal values for the betterment of humanity.

"Greetings to all on the occasion of Buddha Purnima! On this sacred day, let us resolve to embrace the eternal values of Lord Buddha, and incorporate them into our thoughts and actions, for the well-being of all humanity. #BuddhaPurnima," Vice President said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended wishes on the account of Buddha Purnima by sharing a video on X. He also highlight his work over the last decade and his commitment to fulfil Lord Buddha's ideals and to build a planet that is prosperous and sustainable with the help of Buddha's teachings.

Earlier PM Modi on X said on Wednesday, "Coming to Shravasti is special and that too on the eve of Buddha Purnima. While on the way to the rally, caught a glimpse of the iconic Mahamongkolchai Temple and monastery. May the blessings of Lord Buddha always remain upon us."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended wishes on the occasion of Buddha Purnima and asked citizens to follow Lord Buddha's teachings. He also highlighted the importance of harmony, fraternity, and virtuous living.

He took to his Twitter account and said, "The life and teachings of Lord Buddha hold universal significance. His philosophy of truth, compassion, non-violence, and equality have deeply influenced the course of our civilisation and is eternal. We extend our warm greetings on Buddha Purnima. May there be harmony, fraternity, and virtuous living."

Sadhguru extended greetings with the help of his X account. His message reflected on the essence of Buddha Purnima, emphasizing the priority of enlightenment in life.

Sadhguru said in a post on X, "On this day, Gautama the Buddha realized all it takes for enlightenment to happen is to make it the number one priority in life. #BuddhaPurnima #SadhguruQuotes"

Lord Buddha is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and people celebrate Buddha Purnima today on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

As per media agency's report, thousands of devotees gathered in Haridwar earlier today and took a holy dip offering prayers to Lord Buddha. The city witnessed a massive influx of worshippers at various Ganga ghats, including the Har ki Pauri.

Neeraj Pathak, a devotee from Chhattisgarh, shared the significance of the occasion, reported ANI.

"Buddha Purnima is a very significant occasion. That is why my entire family and I have come here to bathe in the Ganges and to have a glimpse of Lord Shankar. It is a very sacred sight. My only prayer to God is that Mother Ganga relieves everyone of their sufferings. We are very excited to bathe in the Ganges, and we hope to come here every year in the same way, and that all the people of India will pay their respects to Mother Ganga, bathe, wash away their sins, and come to alleviate their sufferings. There is a huge crowd, I think there are more than hundreds of thousands of people here," Pathak said, reported ANI.

Another devotee in Varanasi took a holy dip and offered prayers to Lord Buddha.

Ravi Prabha Singh, one of the devotees, shared, "We have all come together to bathe at the Sangam. People come here from very far away. Lord Ram came here and this is where Sita Mata went into the forest. Bathing here provides a lot of benefits."

Similarly Prayagraj and Ayodhya's Ram Mandir also witnessed a huge crowd of devotees. The temple's inauguration on January 22 marked a significant milestone in India's cultural and religious heritage.

(With inputs from ANI)