Patna, March 15 (IANS) More than 300 lower caste Hindus embraced Buddhism at Bodh Gaya, the holiest shrine of Buddhism in Bihar, officials said.

All those who took to Buddhism were from Bihar's Aurangabad and Jahanabad districts, Maharashtra's Nagpur and Satara cities and Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur and Rewa cities.

"The conversion took place at Burma (Mayanmar) Vihar monestary in Bodh Gaya. Mayanmar monk Chandramuni performed the Deeksha ceremony," a police official said.

The Babasaheb Ambedkar Mission organised the Deeksha ceremony and played an important role in the event, the official said.

Most of the people who were ordained into Buddhism said they have changed their religion to get rid of caste discrimination and untouchability.