February 21st to 24th, 2010 – Nagpur
By the invitation of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) and the India Tibet Friendship Society, His Holiness visited Nagpur, Maharashtra from the 21st to the 24th of February, 2010.
On route from the airport to Ravi Bhavan, his place of residence, His Holiness visited Deekshabhoomi and felicitated two memorials of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, also known as Baba Saheb Ambedkar. (He was the person who was responsible for bringing about the Buddhist Movement in India amongst the Indian people. He was also the person who wrote the Constitution of India, which was amongst his many achievements.) In the afternoon, His Holiness had a press meeting at Partakar Bhavan, Sitabuldi, and thereafter proceeded to a reception and a religious discourse organized by the People’s Democratic Movement. The program was hosted by the PDM and presided over by Dr. Nitin Raut, Honorable Cabinet Miinster, Govt. of Maharashtra. The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) is an educational, cultural, social, literary and intellectual forum based on the philosophy of Tathagat Mahakarunik Bhagwang Gautam Buddha and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar based in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
In the evening His Holiness had an informal meeting, dialogue, and dinner with representatives of various other religious heads of Nagpur.
On the 22nd, His Holiness visited Shantivan, which is a museum displaying the life and relics of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, and also visited other important Buddhist and religious institutions, such as the Buddhist Education Centre at Naglok, the Monastery at Buddhabhumi, and Dragon Palace. Thereafter, His Holiness proceeded to the Tibetan Settlement at Goathangoan in Gondi District, where he was accorded a traditional welcome by the monasteries, lay community, and school children of the settlement.
On the 23rd, His Holiness gave a teaching in the morning, and in the afternoon he visited the school, the elderly home, the medical centre, the Settlement Office, and the Nyingma Monastery.
On the 24th, His Holiness gave a Long Life initiation and teachings to the communities of the Settlement. The Settlement hosted a cultural show and Tibetan opera for His Holiness in the afternoon.
On the 25th, His Holiness departed for Nagpur Airport at 6:00am, and en route, he was hosted a reception by the India Tibet Friendship Society, at the Circuit House, in Bandara District. After the felicitation ceremony, His Holiness gave a brief religious talk to the gathering, and thereafter proceeded to visit centers of other religions, beginning with Reshmi Bhavan (i.e. a Hindu Temple in Nagpur) and was felicitated by Dr. Gupta, Head of the RSS Office. Thereafter His Holiness visited the Gurudwar (A Sikh Temple) and held a brief community prayer with the members of the Gurudwara. He then proceeded to visit the Chatholic Church of St Francis De Sales and the SFS College, where he interacted with the members of the Church and gave a talk to the gathering there. On route to the Airport of Nagpur, he also visited the Masjid and the Bhrama Kumari Ashram, where he was accorded a warm welcome.
Upon arriving from Nagpur at Trivandrum Airport, Kerala, His Holiness was received by Mr. Anand Kumar, Trust Founder and Executive Director of Sai Gramam and Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust, Kerala.
On the 26th, in the morning, His Holiness provided a brief talk to a gathering at the Sai Ashram. In the afternoon, after a press meeting, he inaugurated a seminar on “Tibetan Cultures and Spirituality”, which was presided over by Sri C. Divakaran, Honorable Minister for Civil Supplies, Kerala.
On the 27th, in the morning, His Holiness inaugurated the Buddha Temple at Sai Gramam, Thonakkal, Kerala. In the afternoon, he proceeded to the Airport after a lunch hosted by the Trust Founder and Executive Director, Mr. Anand Kumar. The lunch was hosted at Mr. Kumar’s residence.
Karmapa’s Tour of Central and South India
