‘Saga Dawa, as we say it in Sikkim, or Buddha Purnima as it is commonly called in India and ‘Buddha Jayanti’ Nepal is the day to mark the birth of the Buddha.

Though  ‘Gautam Buddha’ was born in Nepal, certain ‘Indian’ interests continue to debate about Buddha’s birthplace. Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, now in modern-day Nepal. He was raised in the Shakya capital of Kapilvastu and obtained his enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, India. This is the fact and truth. Based on this fact and truth, going by its cultural, religious and historical importance, Lumbini was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 as the birthplace of ‘Gautam Buddha’.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) affirms that the Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC. Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world’s great religions. There is evidence that I has been a Buddhist pilgrimage centre from as early as the 3rd century BC. However, some people are still trying to twist this fact about ‘Gautam Buddha’.

When somebody writes or says that Buddha wasn’t born in Nepal, it’s enough to make Nepali people furious.

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the land of Nepal and said Buddha was born in Nepal in his address to Nepal’s parliament. He got a big round of applause at that time.

In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Lord Gautama Buddha was born in India. While addressing Indian community in California he said, “We are from the country where Buddha and Gandhi were born.” Nepalese all around the world opposed that statement.

The birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam has become  a disputed issue as some Indian school textbooks state that Siddhartha Gautam was born in India. However, United Nation is clear about the fact of Buddha’s birthplace. According to United Nations, as the birthplace of the Lord Buddha testified by the inscription on the Ashoka Pillar, the sacred area in Lumbini is one of the holiest and significant places for one of the world’s great religions.

On the one hand, it has been found that many websites claim that Buddha was born in India; on the other hand, Nepalese hold campaigns against this false claim. There is a kind of war. Nepalese all around the world are still posting about the fact of Buddha’s birthplace on Facebook, twitter, and other social media. They are trying to spread truth against false claims.

Few years ago, all the residents of Nepal including social organizations and the Nepalese diaspora started a signature campaign to submit to the United Nations saying that Buddha was born in Nepal. In order to educate the world population and bring the public awareness, a signature campaign under the title: ‘Please Promote: Buddha was born in Nepal and Mt. Everest is in Nepal‘, was initiated by Prem Guragain in 2012. One Million Signatures were collected online as well as offline and were submitted to the United Nations in 2014. Nepalese campaigns against false claims are still on.

This year, Nepal will celebrate the 2560th Buddha Jayanti (the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha) on May 21. The government of Nepal has made preparations for celebrating the Buddha Jayanti in Lumbini. The International Buddhist Conference is being held in Kathmandu. The government of Nepal has invited United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other dignitaries to celebrate 2560th Buddha Jayanti. The Nepalese Prime Minister has expressed his belief that the conference with international participation will help remove the confusion and prove that Buddha and the Buddhist philosophy started from Nepal. Nepalese all around the world are about to celebrate 2560th Buddha Jayanti with same believe and hope.

Meantime, Nepalese New Yorkers are going to celebrate 2560th Buddha Jayanti in New York on May 21. Himalayan Buddhist community of Nepal in the USA has made preparations for celebrating the Buddha Jayanti in Jackson Heights, New York. Hyolmo Society of America and other organizations will support this event.

May this Buddha Jayanti (the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha) spread the message of peace and happiness around the world! Happy Buddha Jayanti!

From Pema Lhamu, Jwalakhel, Kathmandu

  Buddhist, Nepal, saga dawa, Sikkim