VILLAGERS GIVE UP STONE-THROWING RITUAL AT BUDDHIST SITE

Why in news?

After a sustained campaign, heritage lovers and officials have been successful in almost stopping the stone-pelting ritual at Bojjannakonda, a famous Buddhist site

More about the site

• “Bojjannakonda and Lingalametta are twin Buddhist monasteries dating back to the 3rd century BC.
• These sites have seen three forms of Buddhism —
  • Theravada period when Lord Buddha was considered a teacher
  • Mahayana, where Buddhism was more devotional
  • Vajrayana, where Buddhist tradition was more practiced as Tantra and in esoteric form