Important Must See Places
There are number of historical pilgrimage sites in India which are of great importance in the life of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Amoung these, Deekshabhoomi- Nagpur and Chaitya Bhoomi-Mumbai are two places of great most importance in the life of Dr. Ambedkar. Below given are the details of these two along with other historical places related to the life of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.These are the “must see” places for every Indians and specially the Ambedkarites.
Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur- Maharashtra
Sacred monument of Buddhism at the place where Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar converted to Buddhism with his about 600,000 followers on 14 October 1956 which was on Ashok Vijayadashmi, the same day when a Mauryan Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism. Hence this day is also known as on ‘Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din’ (Mass Conversion Ceremony Day).
Dr. Ambedkar and his wife took the oath of Three Jewels and Five Precepts from the Burmese monk Mahasthavir Chandramani from Kushinagar. Dr. Ambedkar then gave the oath of Three Jewels, Five Precepts, and 22 Vows to his thousands of followers. In this way, Nagpur became the birthplace of Dalit Buddhist movement.
Deekshabhoomi is spread over four acres of significant land in the city. The stupa was designed by architect Sheo Dan Mal In 1968, construction started with residential houses for monks. Construction of the stupa started in July 1978, but it took a long time to finish. The stupa was inaugurated on 18 December 2001 by the President of India K. R. Narayanan.
Hence, Deekshabhoomi is regarded as a pilgrimage center of Buddhism in India. Millions of pilgrims visit Deekshabhoomi every year on the occasion of Ashok Vijaya Dashmi and on 14th October.
Chaitya Bhoomi, Mumbai- Maharashtra
Chaitya Bhoomi is a memorial to Dr. B R Ambedkar, Chief architect of Indian Constitution. Earlier known as Dadar Chowpatty it began to be known as Chaitya Bhoomi after Babasaheb Ambedkar was cremated here after his death on 6 December 1956.
The structure is square in shape with a small dome divided into ground and mezzanine floors. In the square shaped structure is a circular wall about 1.5 metres in height. In the circular area are placed the bust of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and a statue of Gautam Buddha. The circular wall has two entrances and is furnished with marble flooring. On the mezzanine floor there is a Stupa, besides the resting place for Bhikkhus. The Chaitya Bhoomi was inaugurated by the learned Smt. Meerabai Yashvantrao Ambedkar, the daughter-in-law of B. R. Ambedkar, on December 5, 1971. Here, the relics of Ambedkar are enshrined.
Ambedkar’s death anniversary, 6 December, is observed as Mahaparinirvan Din. Lakhs of people across the nation throng Chaitya Bhoomi to pay homage to him on this day has become an old custom.