Samyak Mahadan after 24 years

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, July 28: A Dipankar procession and Panchadan programme will be held on July 29 to commemorate the Samyak Mahadan, a sacred Buddhist ceremony that is traditionally held every 12 years but has not taken place for the past 24 years.

The programme will be organised on the occasion of Guru Purnima at the premises of Mahabuddha Mahavihar in Ward No. 27 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).

At a preliminary meeting held to discuss the programme's management, Acting Mayor of KMC Sunita Dangol and Ward No. 27 Chairman Yogesh Kumar Khadgi expressed their commitment to supporting the event.

Sangharatna Shakya, Mahasthavir of Mahabuddha Mahavihar, said the Panchadan programme would honour 85 Shakya Sthavirs, Dipankar Buddhas and the living deities Shri Ganesha and Shri Bhairava residing in Mahavihars and Bahas across Kathmandu.

The day's events will begin at 7 am on Guru Purnima with the enthronement of the Dipankar Buddhas. Panchadan offerings will take place from 9 am to 11 am.

At 12:30 pm, the Dipankar Buddha procession will pass through Mahabouddha, Asan, Inbahal, Kamilakshi and Bhotahiti. The puja that follows will continue until 7 pm.

Samyak Mahadan is traditionally held at Swayambhu. The last Mahadan took place in 2003 (2060 BS). Since then, the ceremony has not been organised. According to the organisers, this year's programme aims to remind the public that the Mahadan should be observed every 12 years.