Details
Raju Vernekar
vernekar.raj@gmail.com
“The Union Ministry of Tourism has approved 30 projects, to be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 918.92 crore to showcase India’s rich diversity, as part of the “ Dekho Apna Desh” initiative, Union Minister of State, Culture and Tourism, Prahlad Singh Patel Lok Sabha early this week..”
PM’s appeal
“During his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already urged every Indian citizen to visit at least 15 destinations in the country by the year 2022 to promote domestic tourism. The initiative includes two tourism promotion schemes- “Swadesh Darshan” and the national mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD).”
“The tourism ministry will fund the travel expenses of tourists who visit 15 destinations (excluding traveller’s home town), in the country in a year. The travellers will have to submit the photos of the places they visited on the website of the tourist ministry.”
“Under the “Swadesh Darshan”, which focuses on India’s natural, cultural and historical aspects, the infrastructure at various Buddhist sites will also be developed to attract national and international tourists. The development of Buddhist sites is part of the 15 thematic circuits, being developed at a cost of Rs.764.85 crore.”
Buddhists sites
“The Buddhists which will be developed as part of tourist promotion include the Buddhist sites at Bodhgaya (Bihar), Ajanta and Ellora (Aurangabad, Maharashtra). These sites will be developed at a cost of Rs. 353.73 crore. The CNBs signage have already been installed in the Chinese language at 5 Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh. They include the signage at the site and stupa and monastery of the “Sakyas Piprahwa” and “Sravasti”, Lucknow circle, “Chaukhandi Stupa” at Sarnath, and Buddhist relics and Mahaparinirvana temple at Kushinagar- Sarnath circle. Besides the CNBs signage in the Sinhala language have also been installed at Sanchi monuments in Madhya Pradesh.”
Ajanta-Ellora Caves in Aurangabad in Maharashtra
“The tourism ministry has also been organizing a series of webinars, showcasing the diverse culture, heritage, and destinations in the country and till now 52 webinars were organized, in technical partnership with the National e-Governance Department, Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.”
“In the recent webinar titled “In the Footsteps of the Buddha” Dharmacharya Shantum, a founder of Buddhapath/Ahimsa Trust, guided the participants on a virtual journey of Lord Gautam Buddha, across the plains of the river Ganges to Bodh Gaya (Bihar), where he attained enlightenment. He also elaborated about meditation places such as vulture peak in Rajgir (Bihar), the Jeta Grove at Sravasti (Uttar Pradesh) (where Buddha spent 24 rainy season retreats), the site at Kapilavastu (UP, near Indo-Nepal border) (where Buddha spent his childhood, the Deer Park at Sarnath (where Buddha gave his first teachings and Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) ( where Buddha passed away). ”
Places related to Buddha
“The Deer Park at Sarnath( where the Buddha delivered his first sermon after he attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya), Rajgir, the capital of the then Magadh Kingdom, Gridhra-Kuta (vulture peak). Sravasti- (the capital the ancient Kosala kingdom) (where Buddha performed the greatest of his miracles to confound the Tirthika heretics. These miracles included the miracle in which he created multiple images of himself), Kesariya, a Buddhist stupa located about 110 kilometers from Patna, Bihar, Vaishali, Bihar (Buddha delivered his last sermon at Vaishali and announced his Nirvana (emancipation) and Kushinagar (where Buddha attained salvation in 483 BC).”
Buddhist Circuit of India
“Buddhism is the religion practiced by an estimated 500 million-plus people of the world and the Indian tourism ministry is trying attract the millions of Buddha followers towards various ancient sites falling under the “Buddhist Circuit of India.” According to early Buddhist texts, after realizing that meditative dhyana was the right path to awakening, Buddha discovered “the middle way”, a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, or the noble eightfold path.”
