Bodh Gaya: Bodh Gaya shimmered with international colours on Tuesday morning as the 20th International Tripitaka Recitation Festival began with a grand procession featuring Buddhist monks from 27 countries. The festival, one of the most important annual congregations of the global Buddhist community, will run from December 2 to 12.
Thousands of devotees thronged the streets as the procession started at 7am from the All India Bhikshu Sangha Monastery, passing the Thai Temple and the Mahabodhi Temple complex before culminating at the Kalachakra Maidan. By sunrise, the streets of the pilgrimage town had assumed an unmistakably international flavour, with monks, scholars and pilgrims arriving in large numbers.
Opening Ceremony Under the Bodhi Tree
The formal inauguration will take place at 2pm under the sacred Bodhi Tree, where the Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, India’s Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, will inaugurate the ceremony. Senior political leaders, including the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, are expected to attend during the 11-day programme.
With foreign delegates continuing to arrive, over 20,000 devotees have registered, and the number is rising.
City on High Alert as Security Tightened
Given the heavy footfall and expected VVIP movements, Bodh Gaya has been placed under strict security arrangements. At a security-review meeting chaired by the ADM at the BTMC auditorium, police, administrative teams and specialised units were assigned specific responsibilities to ensure smooth conduct of the event.
Special forces have been deployed between the Mahabodhi Temple and Kalachakra Maidan. Main routes have been barricaded, and entry has been restricted to pass holders only. Surveillance has been increased across the city, with monitoring teams stationed at key points.
Traffic Diversions and New Movement Plan
To manage the large inflow of visitors, the administration has implemented a new traffic plan, restricting vehicles around the Kalachakra Ground and designating separate parking areas. Several routes have been diverted to ease congestion and ensure uninterrupted movement of pilgrims.
Eleven Days of Chanting, Rituals and Cultural Programmes
For the next 11 days, Bodh Gaya will witness continuous Tripitaka recitations, meditation sessions and cultural activities featuring Buddhist traditions from across the world. The atmosphere, organisers say, will become “even more spiritual” as the chanting intensifies and the international gathering deepens its engagement with the scriptures.
