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Breathedreamgo

The transformational travel guide

Photo essay: Celebrating the Buddha in India

by Mariellen Ward · May 4, 2015February 15, 2016 This post may contain compensated links. Find more info in my Disclosure Policy.
Table Of Contents
    • Photo essay of the Buddhist Conclave 2014 on the occasion of Buddha Purnima
      • If you enjoyed this post, you can….
    • Photo essay of the Buddhist Conclave 2014 on the occasion of Buddha Purnima
      • If you enjoyed this post, you can….
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India.

Photo essay of the Buddhist Conclave 2014 on the occasion of Buddha Purnima

SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA was a prince in India more than 2,500 years ago. He lived in a city called Kapilavatthu in the foothills of the Himalayas and was a protected youth, never allowed to venture beyond the palace walls. But one day, curiosity drove him out, into the streets and the market, where he saw the realities of life: sickness, old age, death.

This was enough experience for him to realize he wanted to be free from suffering, and to help others find a way to be free, too. He left his family and became a wandering ascetic, looking for answers. Eventually he gained Nirvana, or enlightenment, under a Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, on the full moon of the month of Vaisakh.

This event is celebrated every year on Buddha Purnima.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him. ~ Gautama Buddha

Today on Buddha Purnima, Breathedreamgo is celebrating this great spiritual leader with a photo essay from Andrew Adams. These photos were all taken during the Buddhist Conclave in September 2014, which was a three-day event held in India to highlight the Buddhist history of Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Varanasi.

Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India, opening ceremony.

The Buddhist Conclave 2014 opened with a spiritual ceremony under the Bodhgaya Tree, followed by an opening night ceremony with beautiful cultural performances. Lectures by political leaders, tourism industry professionals and Buddhist scholars followed the next day, along with a Tourism and Trade Fair. It was hosted by Bihar and Uttar Pradesh governments for increasing tourism between Buddhist countries.

About 120 delegates from 32 countries were escorted to various Buddhist historical sites including Bodhgaya temple, Sarnath, and a special evening aarti on the River Ganga in Varanasi.

All photos are by Andrew Adams Photography. Andrew is a Canadian photographer who excels at capturing “the magic moment” and who specializes in Indian travel and weddings. You can follow him on Instagram.

Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India, opening ceremony.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India, opening ceremony.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Monks at the Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Monks at the Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Monks at the Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Contemplative monk at temple during the Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Monks at the Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Monk at the Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Buddhism, Buddha, monks, Bodhgaya, Sarnath
Monk at the Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India.
Buddhist Conclave 2014, India, Varanasi, aarti
Buddhist Conclave 2014 in India. The Ganga Aarti at Varanasi, India.

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About Mariellen Ward

Professional travel writer Mariellen Ward is the founder of award-winning Breathedreamgo. Mariellen has a BA in Journalism and has been travel writing and blogging since 2005. She has won many awards, including a National Tourism Award from Incredible India Tourism, and writes for some of the world’s leading publications including BBC Travel and NatGeo Traveller India.

Breathedreamgo is an award-winning travel site published by Canadian travel writer and India travel expert Mariellen Ward. Breathedreamgo was launched in 2009 and focuses on transformative travel, travel in India, travel in Canada, responsible travel, and solo female travel.

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Filed under: India, WellnessTagged under: Uttar Preadesh, Bihar, Bodghaya, Sarnath, Buddhist Conclave, Buddha Purnima, Buddha, tourist, Buddhism, Varanasi, Travel, tourism, photography, photo, India, Buddhist
About Mariellen Ward

Professional travel writer Mariellen Ward is the founder of award-winning Breathedreamgo. Mariellen has a BA in Journalism and has been travel writing and blogging since 2005. She has won many awards, including a National Tourism Award from Incredible India Tourism, and writes for some of the world’s leading publications including BBC Travel and NatGeo Traveller India.

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