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Sanchi Maha Bodhi festival joins India’s national festival calendar

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The Sanchi Maha Bodhi Festival has been added to the National Festival Calendar issued by the Government of India by naming the various religious and cultural festivals held in India as National Festivals from this year.

Accordingly, the Sanchi Mahabodhi Festival, based on the annual exhibition of the relics of Saryut Mughals, which has been held for 72 years, is considered a national festival in India from this year.It was held recently (Nov. 30 – Dec. 01) with the participation of a large number of Buddhist devotees from India, Sri Lanka and other foreign countries.

The two-day event was centered around the Sanchi Chetiyagiri temple built in the Sanchi Stupa complex. The Chetiyagiri temple had been built by emperor Asoka. Mr. Prahalad Singh Patel, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Sabha, along with Mr. Kiran Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of India, attended the Sanchi Maha Bodhi Festival with the special greetings of the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi.

The Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, in his congratulatory message to Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero on the occasion of the Sanchi Maha Bodhi Festival said, “The Sanchi Maha Bodhi Festival showcases our civilizational roots and rich traditions held annually to allow Buddhist devotees and pilgrims from all over the world to worship the relics of two great disciples of the Buddha, Sariputta Maharahat and Mahamogallana Maharahat.The Mahabodhi Society’s efforts to preserve and popularize the Dharma buddha and playing an important role in bringing our culture and values to the youth.Also The eternal teachings of the Buddha connect many nations and societies with others. A strong example of this is the Sanchi festival, which brings together people of different races”

I congratulate the Mahabodhi Association for the success of the Sanchi Mahabodhi Festival. I am sure that such events will strengthen our cultural heritage and inspire future generations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi further stated in the message.

Buddhists led by Dr. Supachai Verapuchong from Thailand, Vietnamese devotees including Bodhi Chitta Theraniya from Vietnam, Japanese Buddhist monks and nuns, Buddhist monks and devotees from Sri Lanka joined this event.After centuries of forest cover and ruins, it was discovered in 1918 by Alexander Cunningham and General Macy in 1851 First time at Sanchi shrine.

Excavations were made and then in 1912, Sir General John Marshall restored the ruins and restored the sanctum sanctorum to its present venerable state after the excavations, the relics of the great Mughals, who had been taken to England, built the Sanchi Chetiyagiri temple and worked with irresistible courage to bury it there.Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Thero, President of Sanchi Chethiyagiri Vihara, President of Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society, said that Hadigalle Pannathissa Thero.

As the chief guests of this year’s event, Venerable Vihara of Sanchi Chetiyagiri Vihara, Kandy Wattegama Maliadeva International Buddhist Center Director of Vietnam Bodhichitta Theran, Central Government of India Panchayat Sabha and Rural Development Minister Prahalad Singh Patel (Sri Prahalad Singh Patel).Dr. Supachal Verapunchong, one of Thailand’s foremost Buddhist leaders, Member of Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha (State Legislative Assembly) Dr. Prabhuram Chaudhary Raisan District Collector Aravind Kumar Dubey – Collector & District Magistrate – Raisan District) participated.

Cultural groups including famous Japanese singer MyU, Sri Lanka’s Thushara Hettiarachi, and Buddhist artists representing various parts of India joined the cultural concert held in conjunction with the Sanchi Mahabodhi Mahotsa.Also, nearly 100,000 Buddhist devotees from Orissa, Andhra, Telangana, Ladakh, Uttar and Uttarakhand, Assam, Kerala, Himachal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and other states participated in the Mahabodhi festival on these two days, Chetigiri vihara resident Udugama Tapassi Thero said.

The relics of Saryut Mughal Agrasravaka, which were kept in the fragrance chamber of the crypt of Chetiagiri Vihara, were brought to the upper floor from that chamber on the 30th of November (30), and after being placed in the temple building, the people were given the opportunity to pay obeisance.Presbyter Banagala Upatissa said that the request of the late Prime Minister of India, Sir Jazablalala Nehru, was fulfilled 72 years ago.A special alms giving was held at the Maha Bodhi Vandana Niketan premises for the Indian monks coming to this event, and a large number of dansals were organized for the pilgrims

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Trump says Iran – Israel have agreed to a ceasefire

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US President Donald Trump has announced a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran on social media.

Trump says the ceasefire will begin “in approximately six hours from now” after each country has “wound down” their military operations.

Trump’s announcement contains a periodic unravelling of hostilities but says that “upon the 24th hour” the war will officially end.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, has posted on X saying there is “no agreement of any ceasefire or cessation of military operations.”

“”As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around…However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards,: he has added.

“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later,” he has further said.

Meanwhile, Reuters have reported citing a senior White House official as saying that President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran through talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday while his team, including Vice President JD Vance, held talks with Tehran.

The official, providing details of the ceasefire on condition of anonymity, has said Israel agreed to it so long as Iran does not launch fresh attacks.

(Agencies)

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Showers expected today

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Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts today (June 24).

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain close airspaces

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Iran has launched missiles at a US airbase in Qatar in response to strikes on its nuclear sites on Saturday.

Qatar confirms the attack on the US-run Al Udeid base, calling it a “flagrant violation” and says it reserves the right to respond directly.

The country has temporarily closed its airspace and US and UK citizens have been advised to shelter in place.

Meanwhile, Kuwait and Bahrain have also closed their respective airspaces.

(Agencies)

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