Bodh Gaya ready to ring in Dalai's 90th birthday with procession, prayers today
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The Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) has organised a special evening prayer session and lamp-lighting ceremony at the world heritage site, scheduled to begin around 5.30pm. Earlier in the day, at 9.30am, the International Buddhist Council (IBC), Bodh Gaya, will hold a ceremonial offering of robes and bowls to the statue of the Buddha inside the sanctum sanctorum.
"Before the prayer session, a procession will be taken out from Namgyal Tibet Monastery, around 200 metres west of the Mahavihara, Sunday morning," said Bhikkhu Pragyadeep, general secretary of the IBC.
"More than 200 people, including representatives of various monasteries in Bodh Gaya, members of the hotel industry, tourist guides, interfaith representatives, devotees and international tourists, will be taking part in the procession," Pragyadeep added.
Following the evening prayers, a cake-cutting ceremony will be held to honour the Dalai Lama, accompanied by chanting in Pali and Tibetan by monks from the Theravada and Mahayana traditions.
District magistrate and BTMC Chairman Shashank Shubhankar is expected to attend as chief guest and BTMC member secretary Mahashweta Maharathi as guest of honour. Students from a private school in Bodh Gaya will present a cultural performance as part of the celebration.
Rakesh Kumar, president of the Tourist Guide Association of Bihar, highlighted the Dalai Lama's strong connection with the holy town. "After Dharamshala, Bodh Gaya is considered his second home.
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He loves to stay here. Every Dec-Jan, he visits Bodh Gaya and delivers sermons. A large number of his followers and devotees from different Buddhist countries come here to listen to him. It gives a boost to tourism in the heritage city," he said.
"Due to health concerns, he could not visit Bodh Gaya during the 2024-25 tourist season. Every member of the tourism industry will be praying for his long life," he added.
As the city prepares to honour a towering spiritual figure, Bodh Gaya stands ready once again to serve as a symbol of devotion, peace and unity, offering prayers for the long life of a man whose message continues to inspire the world.
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