http://www.timesofindia.com/today/07mpat1.htm The Times of India News Service

PATNA: The Bihar government has decided to display the urn containing the ashes of Lord Buddha in the Patna museum on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on Monday. This is for the first time when the urn would be put up for public view on this occasion.

It will be placed in the centrally air conditioned "Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur auditorium" under tight security. The urn had been found during the excavation at Vaishali in the year 1958.

The directorate of Patna museum has decided to cancel the weekly closure on Monday in view of the Buddha Purnima and decided to organise a special samyak darshan programme for the people.

Bihar minister for art, culture and youth affairs Ashok Kumar Singh said that the government had allowed public viewing of the holy ashes for the first time on the Buddha Purnima day. He said that the programme was a part of the awareness programme for heritage conservation.

Buddhists from all over the world had been demanding to see the urn containing the ashes of the Lord Buddha for a long time. It had earlier been displayed during the Buddha Mahotsav held in Bodh Gaya in 1998-99.

Special arrangements had been made to educate people about Buddha, his life and teachings. Numerous paintings, depicting various stages of Buddha's life, will be displayed in the museum.

"Samyak darshan" programme will be inaugurated by Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi. Former CM Laloo Prasad Yadav will be the chief guest of the function and RJD MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh will be the guest of honour. The programme will be presided over by the Bihar minister of art, culture and youth affairs.

'Twenty days with Buddha' to be released

BANGALORE: The story of Buddha may have been told a hundred times. What matters, is the way the story is narrated. Critics said this about the Kannada book (Buddhanodane Ippatthu Dinagalu) 'Twenty days with Buddha', released on the eve of Buddha Jayanti.

Writer H S Venkatesh Murthy released the book at the Mahabodhi Society on Sunday. ''This book keeps you engrossed right from the minute you get a hold of it,'' he said.

The author, Molakaalmuru Srinivasamurthy, has given a balanced view on social evils such as the caste system.

The book does not lose focus at any point. It centres around Buddha and his preachings, said H S Venkatesh Murthy.

''Most writers have a complex way of describing emotions. This book is written in simple words,'' he said.

''There's a situation when the author misses the Ganga-Cauvery Express to reach Bodh Gaya. The train's number is 6914, the digits add up to 20. Twenty days with Buddha and the digits adding up to 20,'' another reviewer Bhima Reddy said.