There is no alternative to world peace: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

BHUBANESWAR: Amid the reveberation of chants at the golden jubilee celebration of Dhauli Peace Pagoda here on Friday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said there is no alternative to world peace.
“It is the only option to achieve goals for a better and beautiful world,” said Naveen, while appealing to people to spread the message of peace and create a safer world for future generations. “It is a golden moment at the Dhauli Peace Pagoda. An aura of peace and harmony is emanating from the mantras and sermons,” he added.
Hundreds of monks from Japan, the US, Ukraine and Kazakhstan attended the celebration. The monks and devotees of Nipponzan Myohoji conducted morning prayer at the pagoda to spread global peace and harmony.
Naveen said Dhauli and the Kalinga war are of huge significance to Odisha. “King Ashoka realised the futility of war and bloodshed and embraced Buddhism at this place. In fact, Dhauli changed the course of world history by spreading the message of global peace and harmony,” he added.
He said the 50th year commemoration of the establishment of Dhauli Shanti Stupa is a matter of great pride and glory for people of Odisha. “This peace pagoda is a great creation of modern architecture. It bears the testimony of Indo-Japanese friendship that stands for global peace and mutual co-operation,” said Naveen.
He said the Shanti Stupa stands here as a monument symbolizing and spreading the message of peace. This place will continue to spread the message of peace for all times to come, he added.
He offered tributes to Nichidatsu Fuji Guruji of Japan, founder and preceptor of Nipponzan Myohoji, for his contribution in building this peace pagoda at Dhauli. He also mentioned in his speech about Kalinga-Nippon Buddha Sangha. The monks received Naveen with the traditional beating of drums. Monk G Nakasato and Rabi Sahoo spoke on the occasion. Among others, science and technology minister Ashok Chandra Panda and tourism minister Aswini Kumar Patra attended the celebration.
Dhauli Peace Pagoda or Shanti Stupa was established at Dhauli under Indo-Japanese collaboration in 1972.