Celebrating International Bhikkhuni Sangha Day in Mumbai
The 29th and 30th of September celebrated Bhadrapada Purnima, a day in the lunar calendar that commemorates the founding of the bhikkhuni sangha by Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s stepmother.
The Mahaprajapati Gautami Educational Foundation held International Bhikkhuni Sangha Day at the CIDCO Auditorium in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, with over 800 attendees, mostly lay participants from Mumbai.
The ceremony was held at Buddha Pratishthan temple, with over 75 bhikkhunis from different parts of India and local laypeople in charge of the rally. Monks and nuns were greeted with a lotus bud when they arrived at the convention center.
The ceremony was opened with Dr. Amrit Pal Kaur as the chief guest, and Ven. Seelachara Bhikkhuni, Ven. Katyayni Bhikkhuni, Ven. Pannya Silo Bhikkhu, and Ven. Mouriyar Buddha as special guests. Ven. Suniti Bhikkhuni served as the event’s organizer and the guests lit an electric candle to symbolically represent Atta Deep Bhava.
Additionally, a painting of Mahaprajpati was unveiled. Ven. Thulnanda Bhikkhuni recited tri sharan and panchsheel in Pali, while Ven. Nimmal Metta Bhikkhuni provided the same in Hindi for the laywomen of Mahila Metta Sangha from Seawoods.
