Lucknow, Feb. 24 -- Kushinagar, the Mahaparinirvana site of Lord Buddha, witnessed a grand spiritual gathering on Tuesday as the 17th Buddha Dhatu Shobha Yatra concluded with wide international participation.
Organised by the Thai Monastery, the five-day celebrations from February 20 to 24 ended with a ceremonial shobhayatra from the Mahaparinirvana temple to the Ramabhar Stupa.
Elephants, horses and traditional bands led the Yatra. The entire town resonated with chants and devotional music. More than 200 foreign tourists joined thousands of local devotees. Buddhist monks and followers from Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, Ladakh and Himalayan regions participated, giving the event a strong global presence.
Thailand's Ambassador to India, Chavana...