Buddha Purnima celebrated under spell of lockdown in Nepal

This year on occasion of Buddha Purnima aka Gautam Buddha Jayanti, worshippers were missing at Swayambhunath Stupa due to nationwide lockdown put in place and government's strict directive to stay away from places hosting mass garing. This resulted in fewer footfalls in Buddhist shrine in Kathmandu, that is enlisted in World Herit Site.

Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on full moon day in month of Baisakh of Lunar Calendar every year. Born in Lumbini of Nepal, Gautam Buddha, profounder as well as messenger of n-violence and peace is remembered on this day.

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"This time due to pandemic, people couldn't come here which has decreased flow of people. In earlier years worshippers use to come on occasion of Buddha Jayanti but this year flow is low due to epidemic," Keshang Lyamo told ANI after performing prayers at Swayambhunath Stupa. 

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Buddhists from Nepal and or countries has been celebrating day wishing for peace and tranquility in world but this year it remained almost absent from public view.

"This year- Baisakh Day- celebrated with great pump and vigor earlier years, organizing international conferences made us unable to celebrate on way of before," Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said in his mess on occasion of Buddha Purnima.

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COVID-19 situation in Nepal

Prime Minister furr mentioned that Nepal has reported relatively low infection rate of COVID-19 but shouldn't be careless regarding precautions needed to be taken.

"Due to effective plans and decisions made on by government, condition in Nepal hasn't turned sinister. But re are some signs and symptoms signalizing it to be serious. If we don't adopt precautions, aren't prepared on our own for containment, an inclusive understanding this pandemic can turn condition grimmer, so we need to be aware about it," PM Oli said while warning about COVID-19 situation in Nepal.

Nepal till date has registered 99 cases of Coronavirus with 22 successful recoveries.

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(With inputs from ncy)