Devotees throng Shillong Buddha Mandir, light candles & pray

Shillong: People from all walks of life celebrated the Buddha Jayanti in several regions of Meghalaya and in the capital city on Monday.

The occasion marked the birth anniversary and ‘Nirvana' (enlightenment) of Gautam Buddha, who is also known as the ‘Light of Asia'.

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma through a social media post, said, "Greetings to everyone on #BuddhaPurnima. May Lord Buddha's teachings of service, compassion, generosity, and patience inspire us on the path of humanity and harmony".

A large number of devotees thronged the heritage Shillong Buddha Mandir at Forest Colony in the city, which is one of the oldest Buddhist shrines in the northeast, having been set up in 1935.

People, cutting across communities, lit candles and incense sticks, prayed and offered sweets and fruits before the statue of Gautam Buddha.

Sermons on the life and teachings of the Buddha were delivered by the Bhikshus (monks), even as people partook of ‘khichdi prasad', prepared of rice, lentil along with mixed vegetables at the Buddha Mandir here.

Several other Buddha shrines in the city, including the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery atop the Lumparing Hills, and the Buddha Temple at Jhalupara drew hundreds of people.