Dhammachakra Pravartan Din with a difference
| Date :15-Oct-2020 |
This monk standing outside the compound of Deekshabhoomi
and paying reverence on the occasion of Dhammachakra
Pravartan Din on Wednesday, comes as a symbol of devotion being an inner attribute. (Pic by Anil Futane)
Staff Reporter :
October 14 is an important date for lakhs of followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. For, on this date in the year 1956, Dr Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism at Nagpur. Lakhs of devotees throng Deekshabhoomi on this date as well as Vijayadashami. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic this year, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti cancelled all the events and appealed to the followers not to visit the place. Most stayed at home, but some followers in small groups made it a point to offer reverence to Gautam Buddha and Dr Ambedkar from outside the closed gates of Deekshabhoomi.
Clad in white clothes, the followers in small groups kept visiting the area. Some offered reverence from outside the gates of Deekshabhoomi. Eyes of some devotees tried to gaze through the distance to get a glimpse of the urn containing the ashes of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Though usual crowd was not there, some shop-keepers had set makeshift stalls to sell idols of Gautam Buddha and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Anticipating that some people will turn up around Deekshabhoomi, some organisations set up stalls to distribute tea and water to the visitors.
The cops maintained a bandobast and monitored the situation closely. Barricades were placed to close the roads leading to Deekshabhoomi. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti also put up banners appealing to the people not to crowd the place. Samata Sainik Dal volunteers also helped in guiding the followers. The work of restoration of the stupa is in progress. Some followers also hoped that it would be completed by Dhammachakra Pravartan Din next year.