http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Thousands-embrace-Buddhism-on-Vijaya-Dashmi/articleshow/6770157.cms
Thousands embrace Buddhism on Vijaya Dashmi
Abhinav Malhotra, TNN, Oct 18, 2010, 09.36pm IST
KANPUR: On a day when the country was busy burning the effigies of
demon king, the villagers of nondescript Pukhrayan village in Ramabai
Nagar had gathered to worship Ravana and to embrace Buddhism on the
occasion of Dussehra or Vijaya Dashmi on Sunday.
Over 5,000 dalits embraced Buddhism in the presence of 12 Buddhist
monks during Ambedkar Baudh Deeksha ceremony held at the Krishi Mandi
Samiti `maidan' in Pukhrayan, 70-km from the city. In addition to the
converts, several thousand other persons came to witness the ceremony.
The converts were mostly from Allabahad, Hardoi, Azamgarh, Auraiyya,
Kannauj, Unnao, Agra, Firozabad and rural pockets like Bhognipur,
Akbarpur, Rura, Derapur, Sikandara and Shivli villages of Kanpur
Dehat.
Before taking the oath, they took out a long procession. A man seated
on a chariot and depicting Ravana's character was hailed by them. They
showered flowers and threw colours on the procession.
Later, Bhante Angulmal, a Buddhist monk, along with many other monks
delivered a sermon and made people take oath to follow principles of
the Buddhist religion with utmost dedication.
"From today onwards, we would only abide by the principles of Lord
Buddha," said middle-aged Ram Vilas Sachan, who had travelled all the
way from Fatehpur to attend the ceremony in Pukhranya.
Dhani Rao Baudh Panther, president, Bharatiya Dalit Panther party, who
has been conducting the annual ceremony against the discrimination in
the society, said: "We believe that Ravana was a `Dravidian' king of
`Gond' tribe and a learned person, well-versed in the vedas. We have
been organising this Baudh Deekhsha ceremony every year so that the
future generation can remember his (Ravana) sacrifice and continue the
tradition."
Retired IAS Chandrapal Arun, former vice-chancellor, Jhansi
University, Anil Kumar and deputy general manager, enforcement, Base
Yamuna Power limited, Ramesh Chandra were present on the occasion.
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