Ministerial committee formed for Kalachakra ceremony

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy appointed a ministerial committee, led by finance minister K Rosaiah, to ensure smooth conduct of 'Kalachakra initiation ceremony' to be held from January 2006 at Amaravati in Guntur district.

Kalachakra is the spiritual gathering of Buddhists in commemoration of the 2,550th year of the demise of Gautam Buddha.

Buddhists' spiritual leader Dalai Lama will give 'Kalachakra Empowerment' to his disciples at the ceremony.

Over a lakh Buddhists from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Europe and America are expected to take part in the event. Besides, heads of a few states and celebrities like Hollywood star Richard Gere would attend the ceremony, according to an official press release.

At a review meeting on Tuesday, the chief minister directed the officials to widen the road between Guntur and Amaravati.

He also wanted double-laning of Amaravati to Sattenapalli road and widening of the roads leading to Amaravati from Vijayawada to facilitate vehicular movement and ease traffic congestion.

The chief minister also appointed another ministerial committee also led by Rosaiah to oversee the successful conduct of the 80th birthday celebrations of Satya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi on November 23.

In this regard, he agreed to the request of panchayatraj minister J C Diwakar Reddy for taking up road-laying and sanitation works in Anantapur at a cost of Rs 15.64 crore.