86th Buddha Mahotsav 2026 – Sankisa

The 86th Buddha Mahotsav (Buddhist Fair) will be held on 25 and 26 October 2026 at the Dhammaloko Buddha Vihar premises in Sankisa, Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. The festival is being organized by the Dhammaloko Buddha Vihar Management Seva Trust and its associated organizations. The two-day celebration is expected to bring together Buddhist monks, followers, devotees, Upasakas and Upasikas from across India. The programme will include a Bhikkhu Conference, Dhamma Sabha, Buddha Natak, Dhamma Yatra, Stupa Puja, Sacred Chivara Dana, general assembly and various religious and cultural programmes. On 25 October, the programme will include food and worship for Buddhist monks, a conference beginning at noon, and a Dhamma Sabha from 5:00 PM featuring addresses by prominent Buddhist scholars and a Buddha-themed theatrical performance. On 26 October, the Dhamma Yatra, Stupa Puja and Sacred Chivara Dana will begin at 7:00 AM, followed by a general assembly at 10:30 AM and religious-cultural programmes continuing through the evening. A Buddha-life-based drama is also proposed from 9:00 PM through the following morning. Several Buddhist monks, including Bhante Anand Mahathera of Agra, Bhante Nandratna Mahathera of Kushinagar and Bhikkhu Upananda of Lucknow, have been invited to participate.

Sankisa is regarded as one of the eight major Buddhist pilgrimage sites and holds deep historical and spiritual significance in Buddhist tradition. According to Buddhist tradition, Gautama Buddha descended to Sankisa from the celestial realm on Abhidhamma Purnima after delivering the Abhidhamma teachings. The annual Buddha Mahotsav continues this religious and cultural tradition by bringing together Buddhist monks, scholars and devotees for Dhamma discussions, worship, pilgrimage activities, cultural performances and the offering of the sacred Chivara. The festival also highlights Sankisa's importance as a centre of Buddhist heritage and pilgrimage in Uttar Pradesh.