Second International Buddhist Conference kicked off at Udayagiri

Jajpur Large numbers of tourists particularly overseas tourists   will visit the famous Buddhist sites at Lalitagiri, Ratnagiri , Udagiri, Langudi , Kaima , Radhanagar , Brajagiri ,  Neulapur and other places of Jajpur district  as the government is determined to highlight these places in the second International Buddhist conference , said Dr Arabinda Padhee the secretary  of tourism and culture while addressing the second International Buddhist Conference at Udayagiri on Saturday.

The famous Buddhist sites in Lalitagiri, Udayagiri and Ratnagiri  in Jajpur district of the state are fit to get the status of World Heritage Sites like Sun Temple of Konark.  The government has already prepared an ambitious master plan to develop Buddhist sites in Jajpur district as a tourist hub to attract more foreign and domestic travellers. Jajpur district has a special place on the World Buddhist spots,   added Padhee.

The basic objective of the international conference is to create awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and to promote tourism.

The ancient Buddhist sites of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon, Buddhist monastery in Sanchi of Madhya Pradesh, Buddhagaya In Bihar, Buddhist caves in Ajanta and Ellora find places on UNESCO's World Heritage List . The success of this conference will pave the way to declare these sites in Odisha  as World Heritage sites. The district administration stopped illegal quarrying in these sites, added Padhee. 

Many Buddhist scholars of other states and countries are unaware of the rich Buddhist heritage of our state and this conference will be useful for them to know about the historic Buddhist sites of Odisha, added  Padhee.

Addressing the conference Ajit Kumar Tripathy the state election commissioner termed these areas as treasure houses of history that is just waiting for the arrival of large numbers of tourists. Visitors can travel through this Buddhist Circuit in a very economic package to savour splendid beauty and great appeal of Buddhism.

At least 140 noted Buddhist scholars including 23 from around the  six countries   attended  the three day long International Buddhist conference  at Udayagiri.  The culture and tourism department of the state is organizing the conference to attract more tourists, researchers to the Buddhist sites of the state. All the delegates will visit   the famous Buddhist sites of Udayagiri, Ratnagiri, Lalitagiri, Langudi, Kaima and other places of Jajpur district during their three day long stay in Udayagiri.

The conference was addressed by Prof   A.K. Patnaik the former vice- chancellor of Utkal University of Culture, Sushil Kumar Das the director of culture, Prof. D.N. Jena the vice- chancellor   of Utkal University of Culture, Amar Prasad Satapathy MLA of Badachana , Anil Kumar Samal the district collector of Jajpur and others .

Report by: Akshaya Rout

Source: Odishabook.com