Vesaka Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti is a Buddhist festival. It falls on the day of the Full Moon in May and commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Nirvāna), and death (Mahaparinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha.The event commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by floral tributes to Buddha while students and scholars recited prayers in Pali.
Sh. Suresh Kumar Gupta, IFS, Principal Secretary of the Department of Culture, was the Chief Guest for this inaugural session. He highlighted the relevance of Gautama Buddha's teachings in today's hectic professional lives, suggesting they can provide relief and guidance.
Earlier Prof. Shohab Inayat Malik, Head of Buddhist Studies, University of Jammu delivered the Inaugural address. Prof. Ram Nandan Singh was the Keynote Speaker of the inaugural Session, Prof. Singh provided deep insights into how Buddhist principles can transform individual lives and societal structures in the modern world. Further, he also talked about the important teachings of the Buddha i.e. Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Theory of Relativity, Brahamvihara, etc.
After the opening session, more than fifteen research papers on various topics were presented by scholars from across India. Dr Ajay Singh and Sh. Des Raj chaired and co-chaied the session. The seminar was attended by more than a hundred of participants, including scholars, practitioners, and members of the general public. The event highlighted the enduring wisdom of Buddhist teachings and their application in contemporary life, emphasizing mindfulness, compassion, and ethical living. Prominent among others who were present included Sh. Desh Raj, President HGWS, Kishtwar, Dr. Nishant Verma, Dr Chaman, Dr P.P. Singh, Dr Rohit Kumar, Dr Ekta Kumar and Students, Scholars of Deptt. of Urdu and Buddhist Studies.