Visitor Attractions in Nagpur - Deekshabhoomi, Maharajbagh Zoo, Sitabuldi Fort (Paperback)

Chapters: Deekshabhoomi, Maharajbagh Zoo, Sitabuldi Fort. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 20. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Deekshabhoomi - Ambedkar delivering a speech to a rally at Yeola, Nasik, on 13 October 1935Dr. Ambedkar had already declared in 1935 that although he was born as a Hindu he would not die as one. After this declaration, he extensively studied the doctrines of all the major religions to choose Buddhism for him and his followers. He selected Nagpur for his conversion ceremony, as he explained in his speech at that occasion, because Nagpur was the homeland of Nag people who embraced Buddhism and supported it with great efforts in its early period. A ground near Ramdaspeth area in Nagpur was selected for the ceremony. On October 14, 1956, Dr. Ambedkar and his wife Mrs.Savita Ambedkar took oath of Three Jewels and Five Precepts from Mahasthavir Chandramani. Dr. Ambedkar, then, gave the oath of Three Jewels, five precepts, and 22 Vows to his thousands of followers. Dr. Ambedkar died on December 6, 1956, just one and a half months after this ceremony. After his death Dr. Ambedkar Smarak Samiti was organized for the management of Deekshabhoomi. The committee decided to build a Stupa at the place as a monument of that ceremony and a mass conversion of people to Buddhism. The stupa of the sacred Deekshabhoomi was designed by famous architect Sheo Dan Mal. Construction of the stupa started in July 1978, but it took a long time to finish. Sagar Enterprise of Mumbai, (Mr. H. C. Vakharia and Mr. Sandip Vakharia, ) has completed structural work. The stupa was opened for the people on December 18, 2001 after a formal inaugration by the then President of India Dr. K. R. Narayanan. Design of the stupa at Deekshabhoomi is based upon the architecture of the world famous stupa...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=309794