Buddha Day celebrated first time across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Buddha Day was observed Monday for the first time officially across Pakistan to pay homage to the contribution of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama as the founder of Buddhism in South Asia.

The Ministry of National History and Literary Heritage Division put great emphasis upon the significance of Buddha in history at special functions and told that Pakistan had a great number of Buddhist places and museums in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Wah Cantt Punjab and Islamabad which were playing crucial role in maintaining history alive in the heart of peoples.

A Sri Lankan delegation comprising 25 Buddhist Monks also attended the event.Buddhism was founded in the late 6th century BC by Buddha in Asia and it took root in Pakistan some 2,300 years ago under Ashoka.

In 2012, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) indicated that the contemporary Buddhist population of Pakistan was 1,492. Buddha taught unique religious beliefs and explained how to attain full enlightenment for the sake of others. Buddhism has its followers in South Asia including Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and in many western countries.