Hindus greet Buddhists on Magha Puja

NEVADA - Hindus have sent early greetings to Buddhist communities worldwide for the upcoming Magha Puja day, which falls on February 18.

Notable Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a release in Nevada (USA) today, expressed warmest greetings on behalf of Hindu community on Buddhist celebration of Magha Puja day, wishing peace, blessings and joy to all the Buddhists.

Rajan Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that all religions should work together for a just and peaceful world. Dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment, he added.

Also called Makha Bucha and Sangha Day, it is popular in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. It commemorates a day when 1,250 arahants came to pay homage to Siddhartha Gautama and he addressed them and gave them the teachings called Ovadapatimokha, laying down the principles of Buddhist teachings. It shows special appreciation for the monastic sangha. In Thailand, Buddhists participate in candlelight processions from temples called Wian Tian. On this day, Buddhists visit temples to perform merit-making activities, circumambulate Uposatha Hall, do meditation, etc.

Buddhism, fourth largest religion of the world, is based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha, the Awakened One). Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. (ANI)