President of International Buddhist Youth Association, India chapter, Shaku Bodhidhamma and others during their visit to the Buddha vihara under construction in Bagalkot on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Over five lakh people will receive the Buddha Deeksha at a ceremony in Sannati on November 1 to mark the 70 years of B.R. Ambedkar accepting Buddhism, president of International Buddhist Youth Association, India chapter, Shaku Bodhidhamma said on Wednesday.
He was speaking after inaugurating a Prabuddha Bharat Yatra in Nava Nagar in Bagalkot.
He told reporters that the mass initiation ceremony will be held at the historic Buddhist site of Sannati as part of the yatra that is intended to build a Constitution-based enlightened India.
Several prominent Ambedkarites, Buddhists, members of Bhikkhu Sanghas, Upasaka-Upasika lay followers, social and political leaders, Bahujan Samaj representatives from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, and other organizations will participate in the initiation ceremony.
Professor I.G. Bellannavar explained that the Dhamma Public Awareness Yatra is being organized across the State with the objective of realizing the vision and resolve of Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Bhadanta Bodhiratna, Bhadanta Buddharatna and Bhanteji Dhammapala from the Nava Nagar Buddhist Vihara and others spoke.
President of the Buddhist Vihara Committee Premanatha Garasangi, Sadashiv Kodabagi, D.S. Jaibhim, Mahesh Bilagi, Manohar Garasangi, Durgesh Neelanayaka, Raju Narayani and others were present.
Later, Dr. Bodhidamma visited the new Buddhist Vihara under construction near the APMC Yard in Nava Nagar.
He urged lay practitioners to make the best use of this facility and to incorporate the principles of the Dhamma into their daily lives.
He urged the Vihara committee not to entertain vested interests and negative minded people.
“We should be cautious of impostors and those promoting false ideologies. We need to understand the importance of the true principles of the Buddhist Dhamma, while prioritizing critical thinking and humanistic values. Meditation camps should be organized by bringing together five people from each village. Such camps can help foster mental peace, an understanding of the Dhamma and sound life values among the people,” he said.
He volunteered to come to Bagalkot to conduct such camps.
Parashurama Neelanayaka, DSS leader Engineer Gurushantappa Madeenakar and others were present.
Published - October 21, 2026 07:56 pm IST