Lucknow, May 21 (Reporter) Uttar Pradesh is set to celebrate Buddha Purnima with grandeur, honouring the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha. The state, deeply connected to Buddhism, will see festivities across the Buddhist Circuit, comprising Kapilvastu, Shravasti, Sankisa, Kaushambi, Sarnath, and Kushinagar. Kapilvastu in Siddharthnagar district, where Siddhartha Gautama spent his first 29 years before renouncing his royal life, is preparing for significant events. Shravasti, where Buddha spent 25 rainy seasons in Jetavana; Sankisa, where he descended from Devaloka to Earth; and Kaushambi, which he visited during the sixth and ninth years of enlightenment, will also host celebrations. Sarnath in Varanasi, the site of Buddha's first sermon on the 'Four Noble Truths,' and Kushinagar, marking his Mahaparinirvana, will be key highlights. Additionally, the Ramgram Stupa in Maharajganj district, believed to have housed Buddha's relics, and Devdaha, the maternal home of Queen Mayadevi, Prajapati Gautami, and Princess Yashodhara, will be part of the festivities. The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department and the International Buddhist Research Centre have planned a series of events for May 23. These include seminars, cultural programmes, and religious processions (Shobha Yatra). The International Buddhist Research Centre in Lucknow will host a programme themed ‘Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites in the State: Historical and Cultural Significance,’ with Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture, as the chief guest. A panel discussion featuring Ven. Dr. Julampitiye Punyasara Mahasthavira from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, Professor Uma Shankar Vyas from Nav Nalanda University, Bihar, and Professor Ram Nakshatra Prasad will delve into the historical and cultural importance of these sites. Additionally, essay and painting competitions themed ‘Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites: Sarnath’ will encourage participants to explore and express Sarnath's rich history and culture. To accommodate the influx of tourists, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is enhancing facilities at key locations like Sarnath, Sankisa, and Kushinagar. These efforts aim to improve infrastructure and amenities, enrich the visitor experience, and honour the state's Buddhist heritage...////...