Devotees at the Buddha Vihar on Monday. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

May 23: Two new temples were inaugurated at the Assam Buddha Vihar in Amingaon today on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.

The idols of Buddha, however, are yet to be installed. “We have inaugurated the building today but we will install the idols later,” an official of Buddha Vihar said.

Monks and devotees from Darjeeling, Sikkim, Bhutan and the seven northeastern states flocked the Buddha Vihar to celebrate Buddha Purnima, the birth anniversary of Buddha. Apart from the Lamas, local residents also participated in the festival.

C.S. Lama, the gurumata (head of the monastery) said every year a large number of people from the city assemble at the Vihar from early morning on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.

The number of people swelled in the evening as more devotees visited the temple to be part of the Tara-Devi puja.

The day began with a colourful procession taken out by monks and children of the monastery.

Apart from inauguration of the two temples, two books on Buddha’s work and life were released by novelist Anuradha Sharma Pujari.

The two temples were inaugurated by D. Dahdul, principal secretary-cum-commissioner to transport department, government of Sikkim.

This was followed by inauguration of a prayer hall on the Vihar campus.

“The prayer hall has been constructed and decorated in such a way that it provides perfect environment for meditation,” said Vilash Janabandhu, a Buddhist devotee.

The day was also marked with prayer meets, sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourses, recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, and prasad distribution to devotees and visitors.

The most important part of the puja is the nynsen ? recitation of prayers in the accompaniment of pipes.

“The prayers are performed three times a day, in the early morning, sharp at noon and in the evening,” said Lama. The nynsen is believed to keep evil spirits at bay.