The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), commemorated Āṣāḍha Pūrṇimā as Dhammacakkappavattana Divas at the Jivak Auditorium, CIHTS, Sarnath. The celebrations brought together approximately 500 eminent monastics, scholars, dignitaries, students, and delegates from across the global Buddhist community to mark the occasion of the Buddha's First Sermon and the turning of the Wheel of Dhamma.

The annual Āṣāḍha Pūrṇimā – Dhammacakkappavattana Divas is celebrated each year in collaboration with leading Buddhist institutions. The event serves as an important platform for bringing together the global Buddhist community to reflect on the timeless relevance of the Buddha's teachings while promoting India's rich Buddhist heritage and shared civilisational legacy.

The programme commenced with the arrival of the Chief Guest, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, who was received by Ven. Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche, Secretary General, IBC; Ven. Prof. Wangchuk Dorjee Negi, Vice Chancellor, CIHTS; Ven. Dr. Kahawatte Siri Sumedha Thero, President, Indo-Sri Lanka International Buddhist Association; Shri Raghav Prasad Bhatnagar, Director General, IBC; and Dr. Sunita Chandra, Registrar, CIHTS.

The ceremony opened with sacred chanting in Pali, Sanskrit, and Tibetan by members of the Sangha, followed by a welcome address from Ven. Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche. Reflecting on the significance of Āṣāḍha Pūrṇimā, he described the occasion as a celebration of the Buddha's sharing of wisdom with humanity through the First Sermon at Sarnath. He highlighted that the day also marks the coming together of the Three Jewels—Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, and continues to unite the global Buddhist community in a shared spirit of remembrance, learning, and renewal.

Delivering the keynote Dhamma discourse, Ven. Dr. K. Siri Sumedha Thero spoke on the historical importance of ancient Varanasi as a renowned centre of learning and commerce during the Buddha's lifetime. He reflected on the Buddha's journey through the region before arriving at Sarnath, where the Dhamma was first taught to the five ascetics, establishing Sarnath as one of most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Addressing the gathering, Ven. Prof. Wangchuk Dorjee Negi appreciated the recognition of Sarnath as India’s 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site, describing it as global acknowledgement not only of the Buddha's First Sermon but also of India's enduring civilisational and philosophical heritage. Speaking on the principle of Pratityasamutpada (Dependent Origination), he explained that individuals, societies, and nations are interconnected, and emphasised that the Middle Path offers a timeless framework for harmony, peace, and responsible coexistence.

A cultural presentation by students of CIHTS illustrated the significance of Āṣāḍha Pūrṇimā through a dramatic performance depicting the Buddha's discovery of the Middle Way and the teaching of the Four Noble Truths. The performance contrasted the futility of extremes with the wisdom of balance, portraying the realities of suffering, its causes, the possibility of liberation, and the Noble Eightfold Path as a practical guide for ethical and mindful living. The presentation concluded by reinforcing the enduring relevance of the Buddha's teachings in addressing contemporary challenges.

In his address as Chief Guest, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya expressed his happiness at participating in his second programme organised under the aegis of the International Buddhist Confederation. Recalling his recent visit to the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia, during the exposition of the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, he spoke of witnessing the deep devotion of Buddhist communities, where thousands of people gathered to pay homage to the Holy Relics. He noted that the overwhelming response, not only from Kalmykia but also from neighbouring countries, reflected the growing global resonance of the Buddha's teachings and reaffirmed India's unique responsibility as the custodian of this shared Buddhist heritage.

The Deputy Chief Minister congratulated all stakeholders on the recognition of Sarnath as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, describing it as a proud moment for India and for the global Buddhist community. He observed that Sarnath, where Lord Buddha delivered his First Sermon, occupies a singular place in world history and should inspire every Buddhist visitor to feel they have arrived in the sacred land of the Buddha.

Highlighting Uttar Pradesh's central place in the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit, he referred to the state's association with major Buddhist sites including Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinagar, Sankissa, and Piprahwa. He reiterated the commitment of both the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh to the holistic development of places associated with Lord Buddha, ensuring that these sacred destinations continue to serve as centres of pilgrimage, learning, and cultural exchange.

Reflecting on the contemporary relevance of the Buddha's message, he recalled the vision articulated by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that "India has given the world Buddha, not Yuddha," observing that this timeless message of peace, dialogue, and coexistence is increasingly being acknowledged by the world's major powers. He remarked that a growing global awareness of the Dhamma is steadily encouraging people to reconnect with the values of compassion, wisdom, and the Middle Path. Assuring continued government support for initiatives that preserve and promote India's Buddhist heritage, he expressed pride in participating in the celebrations and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting future efforts undertaken by IBC.

The Vote of Thanks was presented by the Director General, IBC. In his address, he expressed deep gratitude to the Venerable Sangha members, erudite scholars, esteemed friends from the media and the Dhamma and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for its unwavering support in making this event a grand success. He reiterated that the joy of celebrating Āṣāḍha Buddha Pūrṇimā had been amplified by the recent news of the ancient site of Sarnath receiving UNESCO World Heritage recognition. This recognition, he noted, is yet another timeless chapter in India’s unique Buddhist heritage finding its rightful place on the global map. He observed that this auspicious occasion serves as a reminder of the purposeful life, teachings, and contributions of Shakyamuni Buddha to the entire humanity. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Triple Gem — the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha for their blessings in enabling the celebration of this auspicious event. On behalf of IBC, the Director General expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest for graciously taking out time to be part of this celebration.

On the sacred evening of Āṣāḍha Pūrṇimā, Shri Raghav Bhatnagar, along with the IBC team, visited the historic Dhamek Stupa at Deer Park, Sarnath. The traditional chanting ceremony performed by the Theravāda monks, led by Ven. Chandima Bhante, was a deeply moving and spiritually enriching experience.