Padayatra of Buddhist monks from Sannati to reach Bengaluru on January 24

Demanding that the State government take up the comprehensive development of the ancient Buddhist sites and to preserve excavated Stupa remains at Kanaganahalli in Sannati, the 1,000 kilometre padayatra titled ‘Sannati Panchasheela Padayatra’ launched by Buddhist monks and the followers of Lord Buddha from the ancient Buddhist site of Sannati in Chittapur taluk in Kalaburagi district on November 15 would reach Freedom Park at Bengaluru on January 24.

A.B. Hosamani, the convenor of the valedictory committee of Sannati Panchasheela Padayatra, addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Friday said that the 70-day padayatra launched from Sannati that passed through districts like Yadgir, Raichur, Ballari, Koppal,Vijayanagara, Chitradurga, Tumakuru and would reach Bengaluru on January 24. Buddhist monks launched the padayatra to push the State government to fulfil various demands including the allocation of ₹500 crore for the Sannati Development Authority to take up comprehensive development of the ancient site and to preserve excavated Stupa remains at Kanaganahalli near Sannati.

The other demands included allocation of 200 acres of land at Kanaganahalli village to Sannati Development Authority and celebrating the Samrat Ashok Sannati Utsav every year on February 12 by the government. He also urged the government to form the Buddha Development Corporation, allocate ₹1,000 crore to address various issues of Buddha community, and also to provide 5 to 10 acres of land in each district and taluk headquarters across the State for establishing Buddha Viharas.