. KATHMANDU: Thousands of Buddhist monasteries in the Kathmandu Valley have thronged the monasteries and monasteries of the Kathmandu Valley since early this morning to mark the 2570th Buddha Jayanti.

Special worship, sermons, lighting of lamps and cultural programmes are being organized at Buddhist sites on the occasion. A long queue of devotees has been seen at the Ananda Kuti Vihara at Swayambhu as the objects related to Lord Buddha have been kept in public for darshan.

In addition, peace recitations, meditation and circumambulation programs have been conducted by monks and nuns in Buddhist monasteries. Meanwhile, the devotees have wished for peace and prosperity by lighting lamps at the Bouddhanath temple.

Buddha Jayanti is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Baisakh Shukla Purnima to commemorate the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Buddha’s teachings of non-violence, compassion and middle path are considered to have made a significant contribution to the establishment of world peace and promotion of humanitarian values.

Siddhartha Gautam was born 2570 years ago on the full moon day of Baisakh Shukla Purnima from the womb of father Suddhodhan and mother Mayadevi. He attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya and started the first Dharma Chakra in Sarnath and attained Mahaparinirvana in Kushinagar.

On the occasion, the government has declared a public holiday while various organizations and religious bodies have organized various programmes to promote peace and harmony throughout the country.