Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 13: Several delegates from other countries who participated in the 13th International Conference on Buddhist Heritage of India were enthralled by the rich cultural heritage of Orissa and its centuries-old association with Buddhism.
The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the presence of tourism minister Ashok Panda and tourism secretary Aravind Padhee.
“Buddhism in Orissa is as old as the religion itself. Its roots can be found in various parts of the state. The religion talks about peace, love and compassion. We are taking many steps from our side to make sure that Buddhists all over the world can visit our state in search of their sacred Buddhist sites. I hope that in the days to come Orissa will turn into a pilgrimage spot for Buddhists,” the Chief Minister said in his address.
Several Buddhist monks from other countries who were in attendance captivated the audience with their hymns and chants during the inauguration of the event.
“Ashokan rock edicts dating back to the 2nd century BC were found at Dhauli, thereby putting Orissa on the global tourist map. Ashoka who was greatly moved by his actions during the Kalinga War undertook several measures to propagate Buddhism in the state as well as abroad, and established maritime links to other countries from the state to help propagate Buddhism in South-East Asia. We have a rich heritage and are not competing with places like Bodh Gaya or Sarnath, but are seeking to develop the state as a supplementary destination to other major Buddhist sites across the country,” Panda said.
“In the past few years, Orissa has become a preferred spot for Buddhists the world over. The number of people visiting our tourist spots in the state is on the rise. Around 10.01 million tourists visited Orissa in 2014, against 9.8 million in 2013. A sizeable number of those tourists were from other countries. However, despite our efforts, air connectivity for international tourists is still an area where we want to improve and we are seeking the Centre’s help in this regard,” said Padhee.
The three-day event which was inaugurated Friday will go on till February 15.
On the first day, many intellectuals and government officials took part in the event and discussed at length the various Buddhist sites in Orissa. On the second day, the delegates will visit the various Buddhist sites in the state such as Dhauli, Udayagiri, Lalitagiri and Langudi. On the concluding day, cultural programmes at Rabindra Mandap have been scheduled.
