Bidar: Nearly 2,000 persons converted to Buddhism during the Dhamma Deeksha ceremony at Anadur in Bidar taluk on Saturday. They took the sacred oath of Buddhism in the presence of Bhikku Arya Nagarjun Suraye Sasay of Nagpur.

Bhikku Sasay asked them to give up smoking and drinking and develop a scientific outlook towards life. "Buddha rejected established religious beliefs.

He stressed more on humanity rather than on religious practices. He believed that faith alone can lead to salvation and that it can be achieved without the need for middlemen," he said. He asked the people to shed all prejudice about race, caste, sex and religion.

Women and Child Welfare Minister H.K. Kumara Swamy inaugurated the ceremony.

The Minister said that taking refuge in Buddhism was the only way left for the Dalits who had been discriminated. Untouchability continued to haunt society even now.

Atrocities on Dalits continue unabated.

Buddhism attracted the deprived classes as it ensured equality, he said.

Agriculture Minister and district in-charge Bandeppa Kashempur said he would grant Rs. 5 lakh from his local area development fund to build Deeksha Bhoomi Dhyana Mandira, a meditation centre, at Anadur.

A building complex would come up in the village like the Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, he said.

Bidar MP Narsingrao Suryavanshi said that Ambedkar had taken 22 years to study all religions before deciding to embrace Buddhism. Buddha preached love, fraternity, compassion and justice for all. "If we follow them, we will soon achieve an egalitarian society," he said.

Karnataka State Dalit Sangharsha Samiti State convenor D.G. Sagar, and district convenor Maruti Bouddhe spoke. Many monks, and preachers were felicitated.

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