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Dhamma Deeksha at Deekshabhoomi, 14 Oct 1956
Source: Survey of India
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Struggle · 14 Oct 1956

Dhamma Deeksha at Deekshabhoomi

Sources differ on some details.

Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur, Bombay State at the time (now Maharashtra)

On 14 October 1956, Ambedkar and lakhs of his followers became Buddhists.

At Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur, Dr B. R. Ambedkar and several lakh people embraced Buddhism together. Counts of those who took the deeksha with him run from more than 3.8 lakh to six lakh. The next day Ambedkar set out the movement's foundations and answered its critics.

The day is remembered every year as Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din. On the anniversary, millions gather at Deekshabhoomi.

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