Photo exhibition, ceremonial lamps mark Buddha Poornima at university

Photographs of nineteenth century paintings of Buddhist caves in Maharashtra are being displayed as part of a photo exhibit at the Mumbai University campus in Kalina. The two-day exhibition began on Sunday, marking the occasion of Buddha Poornima. Payoshaa Shah reports.

Photographs of nineteenth century paintings of Buddhist caves in Maharashtra are being displayed as part of a photo exhibit at the Mumbai University campus in Kalina. The two-day exhibition began on Sunday, marking the occasion of Buddha Poornima.

HT Image

Buddha Poornima is the day that commemorates Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and attainment of Nirvana. The exhibit, organised by the varsity’s Pali department, is open to the public between 10.00am and 7.00pm on Monday.

The photographs include paintings of Ajanta, Ellora and Kanheri, created by British painters in the early 19th century. “These caves are testimony to the fact that Buddhism has flourished in India over the centuries,” said Yojana Bhagat, head of the Pali department at Mumbai University, and practising Buddhist.

Bhagat also said that all the ancient teachings of the Buddha were in the Pali language. The department, comprising 150 students and teachers, celebrated the occasion on Sunday with an hour-long Vipassana meditation session. They also lit 2,601 lamps, for the 2601 years since Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment.