UN celebrates Sambuddathva Jayanthi

The United Nations is celebrating the International Day of Vesak, The 2,600th Anniversary of the Buddha's Enlightenment with a series of events in collaboration with the Permanent Missions to the UN with predominant Buddhist populations and the Buddhists in the greater New York area. The first event featured will be the offering of 'Pindapatha' to over 150 Buddhist monks for the first time in New York on Monday 16 May, at 7.00 a.m. at the Dag Hammarskjold Park. 'Pindapatha' is a traditional ceremony practised among Buddhists to offer alms (food) to their monks.

A procession of Buddhist Monks from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka clad in saffron robes will walk several city blocks in the East side near the U.N. building with alms bowls. Alms will be served by the Buddhists of the city. This is a tradition that was started by the Buddha when he advised his disciples to go on the streets for alms.

After the offering of the 'Pindapatha', a Special Meeting will be convened at the General Assembly of the United Nations at 9.00 a.m. where over a 1,000 participants are expected. Key dignitaries from the United Nations including the Secretary General, a representative of the President of the General Assembly and The Permanent Representatives of India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Sri Lanka will deliver messages on this occasion. An Interfaith Dialogue on religious tolerance and peace will be featured among the day's events at 3 p.m. in the GA Hall. The chief Abbots of the Mongolian and Vietnamese Buddhist Orders as well as renowned Buddhist scholars will address the audience, while Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Hindu dignitaries will share the message of global peace.

Additionally, an exhibition of rare and significant Buddhist artifacts, paintings and photographs of significant Buddhist monuments in Asia will be on display from May 16 to 21 at the United Nations General Assembly entrance.