08 May 2009
Participants at International Day of Vesak celebrations in Australia
On 8 May 2009, Acting Director for the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra, Mr. Richard Towle, read the Secretary-General’s International Day of Vesak message to hundreds of members of the Australian Buddhist community. The reading was organised by the Australian Buddhist Federation as part of the celebrations for the International Day of Vesak.
The Day of Vesak is an important event in the Buddhist religion, celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and attainment of Nirvana by Buddha. Represented organisations at the event include the 60th Dhammachai Education Foundation of Australia and New Zealand and the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation. The Venerable Geshe Dawa, a renowned Buddhist teacher, also attended the event.
Commenting on the event, the UNIC Canberra Director said that the United Nations’ commemoration of this day continues to affirm its strong commitment to the principle of respect for diversity and the acknowledgement of the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made – and continues to make - to the spirituality of humanity.