President Droupadi Murmu today inaugurated and dedicated the Vishwashanti Buddha Vihara in Udgir Latur district. She also installed a statue of Gautama Buddha inside the vihara and paid tribute to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar by offering flowers at his statue. The event included a traditional Buddha worship ceremony.
Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were present on this occasion.
The newly inaugurated Buddha Vihara in Udgir is a replica of the Buddha Vihara in Kalburgi, Karnataka. It is situated on a 15-hectare site and features a meditation centre that can accommodate 1,200 followers. The main entrance to the vihara, inspired by the Sanchi Stupa in Bihar, has been designed to provide an impressive entryway to the premises.
