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Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Dalai's b'day celebrated amid diplomatic crossfire
1 2 Gaya: Amid chants of peace and spiritual homage, the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama was celebrated with solemnity and joy at the world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya on Sunday even as the event drew sharp responses from the Chinese embassy and a clarifying statement from India's ministry of external affairs (MEA). The Chinese embassy in India on Sunday asserted that the Dalai Lama could not decide whether the reincarnation system would continue. Responding, Indian MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The govt of India does not take a position on matters concerning beliefs and religious practices. It has always upheld and will continue to uphold freedom of religion for all in India." As far as Dalai's birthday celebrations at Bodh Gaya are concerned, the morning ceremony, jointly organised by Namgyal Tibet Monastery and the International Buddhist Council (IBC), began with special prayers, robe offerings and chanting in both Theravada and Mahayana traditions before the statue of the Buddha. Devotees, monks and lamas from Tibet, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia and other countries gathered to honour the spiritual leader and pray for his long life. District magistrate and Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) chairperson Shashank Shubhankar, who was the chief guest, and BTMC member secretary Mahashweta Maharathi offered butter lamps and traditional 'khadas' before the Dalai Lama's portrait. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The ceremonial cake was cut in the presence of Venerable Amji Lama, head of Namgyal Monastery. A sangh-dana (community meal offering) followed the prayer session. Students from a local school performed welcome songs and a birthday dance, adding a cultural dimension to the spiritual gathering. Highlighting the Dalai Lama's global impact, IBC general secretary Bhikkhu Prajnadip said, "His message of peace and compassion has touched millions across the world." IBC president Tashi Dorjee added, "This celebration is a heartfelt tribute to his enduring legacy of wisdom, peace, and human values. " In the evening, BTMC held another session with the offering of 1,000 butter lamps, attended by Mahavihara chief priest Bhikkhu Chalinda and other monastic leaders. The celebrations coincided with strong statements over the future of the Dalai Lama's succession. A senior monk of Chakma Buddhist Monastery, Bhikkhu Priyapal, said, "On the eve of his birthday, His Holiness told us he would live a long life, so the discussion on his successor is premature. Any decision on succession is purely a religious matter and interference is inappropriate." "The Tibetan govt-in-exile has a democratically elected prime minister and ministers. Decisions about his successor are a matter of religious freedom and basic human rights," he said. Bhikkhu Ratneshwar Chakma, general secretary of Watpa Monastery, said, "We follow the Dalai Lama for his emphasis on non-violence, compassion, inner peace and mindfulness."
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Time of India
Bodh Gaya ready to ring in Dalai's 90th birthday with procession, prayers today
Gaya: The sacred grounds of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara will be illuminated with prayers and lamps on Sunday as Bodh Gaya prepares to mark the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, the most revered spiritual leader in Buddhism and a global icon of peace, especially for Tibetan Buddhists and countless followers across Europe and beyond. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
UP monk held for creating ruckus at Bodh Gaya
Gaya: Police on Wednesday arrested one Bhante Vinacharya , of Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) for trying to create ruckus and indulging in violent activities in support of the ongoing agitation by a section of Buddhist monks since Feb 12 this year. The protesting monks are demanding total control of Buddhists over the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC).District magistrate-cum-BTMC chairman Thiyagarajan SM said, "Despite the fact that the district administration has been helping the agitators to put forward their point at every level, some outsiders are also getting involved in illegal activities in the name of agitation. Several rounds of talks have been held to end the agitation, but to no avail.""The agitators have also met high level officials of state home department, CM's secretariat at Patna. During his visit to Bodh Gaya on Monday, governor Arif Mohammed Khan also met them. As tourists and the devotees from across the world visit Bodh Gaya, known as a place for peace and enlightenment, such illegal activities are causing damage to the image of the heritage city. Such people are being identified through CCTV, videography and strict action is being taken against them," he Anand Kumar said, "Magistrate and the police personnel deployed for security of Mahavihara noticed on Tuesday that under the guise of peaceful agitation, some anti-social elements suddenly started shouting slogans, creating ruckus and indulging in violent activities. During initial investigation, it appeared that the aim of these people was to create tension under the guise of the agitation. Such elements had also made an abortive bid to cause inconvenience to devotees and tourists on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti on Monday."He said on Wednesday, the Bodh Gaya police received a written application from one Anuj Kumar Gupta, a resident of Bodh Gaya."Anuj mentioned that when he reached near the main gate of Mahabodhi Mahavihara on the way home from his shop, some people surrounded him shouting slogans and started beating him up and also abused him. Due to the intervention of other people present there and the police force, he was rescued from those anti-socials," said the the wake of application by Anuj, and after scanning of CCTV footage, Bhante Vinacharya was arrested. On Wednesday, the shopkeepers took out a march to protest the attack on Anuj.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Buddha Purnima: Guv, CM pray for peace and harmony
1 2 3 4 Gaya/Patna: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and CM Nitish Kumar led the Buddha Purnima celebrations in the state on Monday, offering prayers for global peace and the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya , governor Khan, the chief guest at the event organised by the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), prayed at the sanctum sanctorum and presented a robe, flowers, incense sticks and kheer to the statue of Lord Buddha. He also unveiled Prajna-2025, the BTMC's annual bilingual magazine. A peace procession earlier in the day, from the 80-feet Buddha statue to the sacred Bodhi tree, saw participants offer prayers under the world heritage Mahabodhi chairman and district magistrate Thiyagarajan SM highlighted recent developments at the Mahavihara, including the installation of a 180KW solar power plant and the recycling of offered flowers into incense products. The event featured speakers such as International Buddhist Council president Ven N Tenzing Gyatso and Thailand's Upasika Thosporn Wachiraganphen, who spoke on the life and teachings of Patna, CM Nitish Kumar participated in a spiritual programme at Buddha Smriti Park where he offered prayers to Lord Buddha and meditated at the Pataliputra Karuna Stupa. Guided by monks, he worshipped Bodhi trees from Bodh Gaya, Anand, and Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura. "I prayed for the happiness, prosperity, and harmony of the state and the country," he CM also visited the Vipassana Centre, appreciated its facilities and later offered prayers to the Buddhist rock and Bodhi tree at his residence. Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, ministers and MPs also attended the event.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
Security in Bodh Gaya is always tight: Dist admin
Gaya: With Bihar put on high alert, especially around tourist spots, after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Gaya district officials said on Thursday that the security in Bodh Gaya, especially in and around world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara , has always been tight since the serial bomb blasts in 2013. Bihar State Armed Police (BSAP) has been given command of the security of the Mahavihara. Apart from this, high-resolution night-vision closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at every nook and corner of the premises. District magistrate-cum-Bodh Gaya temple management committee (BTMC) chairman Thiyagarajan S M said apart from the Gaya district and the police administration, the security in and around Bodh Gaya is reviewed at regular interval by senior state officials. "Visitors have to go through three-layer security check to enter the Mahavihara. Electronic security gadgets like baggage scanner, and hand-held as well as door-frame metal detectors are in operation to ensure a foolproof security check at the Mahavihara. Recently, entry with cellphones have been banned on the Mahavihara premises," he said, adding regular patrolling by district police and the tourist police force is being done at all such sites. Gaya: With Bihar put on high alert, especially around tourist spots, after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Gaya district officials said on Thursday that the security in Bodh Gaya, especially in and around world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara, has always been tight since the serial bomb blasts in 2013. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience three trade fairs with just one ticket Undo automatica 2025 Undo Laser World of Photonics Undo World of Quantum Undo Visit automatica: June 24-27, Munich Undo Bihar State Armed Police (BSAP) has been given command of the security of the Mahavihara. Apart from this, high-resolution night-vision closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at every nook and corner of the premises. District magistrate-cum-Bodh Gaya temple management committee (BTMC) chairman Thiyagarajan S M said apart from the Gaya district and the police administration, the security in and around Bodh Gaya is reviewed at regular interval by senior state officials. "Visitors have to go through three-layer security check to enter the Mahavihara. Electronic security gadgets like baggage scanner, and hand-held as well as door-frame metal detectors are in operation to ensure a foolproof security check at the Mahavihara. Recently, entry with cellphones have been banned on the Mahavihara premises," he said, adding regular patrolling by district police and the tourist police force is being done at all such sites.
