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Buddha's ashes to be put on display

The soapstone casket containing the ashes of Lord Buddha is to placed before the public for the first time since its discovery in 1956 in Vaishali. The ashes are being displayed at the inauguration of the four-day Boudh Mahotsav in Bihar today.

The casket, placed in a special brass pot after it was taken out from the vault of the famous Patna museum amid chants of ''Budham sharanam gachami'' by a group of 15 monks, was handed over to Chief Minister Rabri Devi. The chief minister placed it in a van for its onward journey to Bodh Gaya this morning.

As many as 80 vehicles joined the procession, while armed policemen guarded the van carrying the casket. The monks, mostly from south Asian countries, prayed for world peace and burnt incense sticks.

The procession is expected to make many stops its way to Bodh Gaya where the relic casket is to be placed behind the Mahabodhi temple where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.

After the monks perform their prayers there, the casket is to be taken to the Archaeological Survey of India museum for public viewing. About 20 photo pictures, depicting various stages in the life of Lord Buddha are to be placed around the casket in the ASI museum.

The chief minister will receive the casket at Bodh Gaya before it was taken to the temple. The festival is sponsored by the Union tourism ministry in collaboration with the state government.

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