Buddhist monks ‘vote’ for peace

KOLKATA: Heads of Buddhist monasteries across the city on Saturday prayed for peace and tolerance from a public platform on Buddha Purnima. The congregation on Rani Rashmoni Road on Saturday looked and sounded sombre, different from other years because of the restrictions that the Election Commission has issued to the monks to keep the celebrations low key because of the elections on Sunday and also because of an intelligence report about a purported terror threat.
“Buddha’s message of peace and tolerance that was carried beyond the Indian borders by Ashoka’s children was perhaps the first attempt at a foreign policy. A country like this should not see visages of hatred in the name of elections. We urge leaders across parties not to indulge in any kind of excess. Let the world’s biggest democracy choose in peace and with grace,” said Bhikkhu Bodhipala, general secretary of Bauddha Dharmankur Sabha, the 127-year-old vihara at Bowbazar, one of the oldest in the city.
The vihara looked quite invincible with cops posted all over the complex. Devotees were frisked and their bags checked, and the guest house was shut on security grounds. “We are extremely sad. A monastery should not feel like this on Vesak Day,” Bodhipala said.
The oldest vihara in the city, Mahabodhi Society, almost looked like a fortress with cars full of cops at the gate and at every turn till the second-floor temple. “We had no choice but to accept this because we were told there was a threat to our viharas. This threat has coincided with the elections tomorrow and has assumed a different magnitude,” said chief monk Sewalee Thero. He too prayed for an end to the political violence this election.
The monks rued that a large number of devotees could not even join in the celebrations for the 2,563rd birth anniversary of Lord Buddha because public transport has dwindled ahead of the elections. They also complained that the terror threat is forcing the bomb squad to bring in dogs for periodic checks, often clashing with congregation timings.