‘Bouddha Mela’ at Bojjannakonda draws huge crowds

Scores of people gathered for the annual ‘Maha Bouddha’ at the Buddhist heritage site in Bojjannakonda, about three km from Anakapalli and 40 km from Visakhapatnam city, on Friday (January 16, 2026). The annual event has been organised by Buddhist organisations on the occasion of ‘Kanuma’ festival, the day after Sankranti, for the past few decades.

The festivities commenced with a peace rally from the road leading to the hill shrine to the main stupa, located a little below the hilltop, in which Buddhist monks and priests from Bodh Gaya, Mayanmar, and Cambodia participated. Buddhism followers from Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, and the general public participated in the rally.

The monks performed special prayers at the main stupa in the cave temple with flowers, fruits, and sweets. The monks said that the teachings of the Buddha — non-violence, peace, truth and righteousness — were the only solution to universal peace.

Later in a meeting held at the foothills, the Buddhist monks recalled that the Buddha had sacrificed his life for universal peace and called upon the gathering to follow the path shown by the Buddha and contribute to world peace.

Buddhist Associations Federation honorary president Maturi Srinivasa Rao explained about the significance of Bojjannakonda.

A.P. Buddhist Society president Y. Haribabu said that Buddhism was not a religion but a way to bring out the goodness among humans.

Buddhist Associations Federation founder publicity secretary Balla Nagabushanam said that the Bouddha Mela was being organised at Bojjannakonda for the past four decades by the Buddhist Associations. He said that though a laser screen theatre to show the life history of the Buddha and the history of the Bojjannakonda was established by the Central and State governments at an estimated cost of ₹15.5 crore, they were yet to be brought to use for the benefit of visitors and tourists. Similarly, a food court set up in the premises, was also to be operationalised. He hoped that the government and the district administration would initiate measures to bring them to use.