Gaya: Thousands of Buddhist monks, devotees and visitors from India and abroad gathered in Bodh Gaya on Monday to celebrate the 91st birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama with special prayers, religious ceremonies and cultural events centred on the message of peace, compassion and religious harmony.
Prayers at Mahabodhi Temple
In Bodh Gaya, the main observances were held at the UNESCO World Heritage Mahabodhi Temple and were jointly organised by the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), the Namgyal Tibetan Monastery and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).
The celebrations began with a traditional procession from the Namgyal Monastery, where Buddhist monks and lamas carried a portrait of the Dalai Lama in a ceremonial palanquin while playing traditional Tibetan musical instruments. Devotees and tourists joined the procession as it culminated at the Mahabodhi Temple.
Monks later offered special prayers and recited Buddhist scriptures in the temple for the Dalai Lama’s long life, good health, world peace and the welfare of humanity. In the evening, BTMC officials, monks and devotees lit 108 butter lamps at the temple complex as part of the commemorative ceremonies.
Call for compassion and harmony
Speaking at a function in Bodh Gaya, International Buddhist Council president Acharya N T Gyatso said the occasion was more than a birthday celebration and represented a reaffirmation of the values of love, religious harmony and respect for the environment.
IBC president said, Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, was a fitting place to honour the Dalai Lama’s lifelong commitment to peace, compassion, religious harmony and environmental protection. He said the Tibetan spiritual leader had carried the teachings of Buddhism to people across the world and continued to inspire dialogue and mutual respect among different traditions.
An interfaith prayer meeting was also held, during which participants prayed for the Dalai Lama’s long life and continued guidance. Monks and invited guests later cut a birthday cake to mark the occasion.
Among those present were BTMC secretary Dr Mahashweta Maharathi, Mahabodhi Temple priests Bhikkhu Chalinda and Bhikkhu Manoj Thero, Bodh Gaya MLA Kumar Sarvjeet, Bodh Gaya nagar parishad chairperson Lalita Devi, Magadh University vice-chancellor Prof Dilip Kumar Keshari, representatives of tourism and hospitality organisations, senior Buddhist monks from various monasteries and devotees from several countries.
