On the auspicious occasion of the 2,568th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, a grand procession was held in the land of alignment Bodh Gaya in the Gaya district of the state of Bihar, on May 23, Thursday morning.

Thousands of devotees from different states and countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Tibet, Myanmar, Vietnam and Bhutan were gathered for the grand event. The attraction point of the procession was devotees carrying the Panchsheel flag along with chanting the slogan of 'Buddham Sharanam Gachchami'.

Along with the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, the devotees were also observing Trividh Jayanti. This day is significant as it marks three important events, Lord Buddha's birth, his enlightenment, and his Mahaparinirvana, all of which are believed to have occurred on Vaishakh Purnima.

A large crowd assembled on both sides of the roads to witness the grand procession, which travelled through various points before concluding at the Mahabodhi Temple, a World Heritage Site. The journey commenced near the impressive 80-feet-tall statue of Lord Buddha.

A devotee from Maharashtra said Buddha Purnima is the most significant day for the Buddhist community as it commemorates the three crucial events in Buddha's life: his birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana.