Nepal's top leadership stresses unity, peace on Buddha Purnima
Kathmandu (PTI): National unity can be strengthened by following Lord Buddha's guiding principles of tolerance and mutual goodwill, Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel said on Friday, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
The Himalayan nation is observing the 2570th Buddha Jayanti, or the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, who was born in Lumbini, Nepal, around the 6th century BC.
Buddha Jayanti is celebrated on Baishakh Poornima or the full moon day in the month of Baishakh of the Lunar calendar every year.
The birth anniversary of the Buddha, regarded as the messenger of non-violence and peace, is being celebrated across the country with hopes for peace.
Traditional pujas are performed by Buddhists, with lamas and Buddhist gurus conducting ceremonies in Chaityas, monasteries, viharas, and other sacred sites.
Various programmes are being organised at important pilgrimage sites like Lumbini, Swayambhu, and Bouddha to commemorate the day.
In his message on the occasion, President Ramchandra Paudel said that national unity could be further strengthened by maintaining tolerance and mutual goodwill amid religious, social and cultural diversities, abiding by the messages and guiding principles of Lord Buddha, the proponent of non-violence and peace.
Extending his greetings to all through social media, Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that Nepal, blessed by the birth of Buddha, has always been in favour of non-violence and peace.
"The path shown by the Buddha is the path to end suffering by seeking knowledge," he said.
"As a ray of light enters, darkness automatically disappears; likewise, our journey should be in search of the light of knowledge, should be on the path to solve problems,” said Shah.
Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana (death) all occurred on the full moon day of Baisakh. Thus, Buddhists worldwide, including those in Nepal, celebrate Buddha Jayanti with deep reverence and devotion.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Nepal on Thursday celebrated Buddha Jayanti in Lumbini in collaboration with the Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University.
The celebration held on the eve of Buddha Jayanti featured a painting exhibition by school students, chanting of prayers by monks from Nepal and India and a vibrant cultural evening.
On the occasion, a Buddhism-themed Kathak dance was performed by a troupe from ICCR, India, headed by Deepti Gupta and a musical presentation by a Nepali band led by sarod maestro Suresh Raj Bajracharya.
Lumbini Province Governor Krishna Bahadur Ghartimagar was the chief guest on the occasion.
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Karnataka: H5N1 confirmed in death of 44 peacocks in Tumakuru
Tumakuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Lab reports have confirmed that the recent deaths of 44 peacocks in the district were caused by the H5N1 bird flu virus, officials said on Friday.
The incident was first reported on April 16, and over the course of a week, 44 peacocks were found dead under mysterious circumstances in Tumakuru taluk, they said.
The deaths were reported from farm fields in Kesaramadu, Hirehalli and Gulur gram panchayats during an extensive combing operation, forest officials said.
According to the forest department, samples collected from the dead peacocks were sent to the ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal, which confirmed H5N1 as the cause of death.
However, no fresh deaths have been reported in any part of Tumakuru taluk since April 23, officials added.
“Lab reports have confirmed the deaths were due to H5N1. The forest department is working in coordination with the Health and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services departments to ensure the infection is contained,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Kumar Pushkar told PTI.
According to health department officials, all necessary measures have been taken to prevent the infection from spreading, and a containment zone has been declared within a 10-km radius of the affected areas.
All poultry farms within the zone have been alerted and sensitised as per protocol, they said.
Healthcare facilities in the district have been instructed to continue surveillance of ILI/SARI (Influenza-Like Illness/Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) cases and maintain adequate stocks of PPE, triple-layer medical masks, oseltamivir, viral transport medium, and throat swab kits, health officials added.
