Bodhgaya: Bodhgaya has come alive with colour, chanting and global participation as the 20th International Tripitaka Chanting Puja begins in Bihar. Hours before the formal inauguration, thousands of Buddhist monks and devotees representing 27 countries walked through the pilgrimage town in a grand procession that set the tone for the 10-day ceremony.
The procession began at the iconic Lord Buddha statue complex, with monks from Thai, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan monasteries leading devotees toward the Kalachakra grounds. The air echoed with “Buddham Sharanam Gachhami” as participants wished for world peace and the welfare of all beings. Many carried flowers, Buddhist flags and statues of the Buddha, transforming the route into a moving tapestry of devotion.
Organisers estimated that more than 20,000 devotees and tourists joined the march, making it one of the largest gatherings in the event’s history. Dressed in colourful traditional attire, participants wound through Bodhgaya’s narrow lanes before assembling at the Kalachakra Maidan, where the main event will take place.
This year marks a milestone: India is hosting the International Tripitaka Chanting Puja for the first time. Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the ceremony beneath the sacred Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Temple. Union Minister for Arts and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will attend as chief guest during the programme.
The chanting ceremony, which runs from December 2 to 12, will see monks and nuns collectively recite the Tripitaka—the central canon of Buddhist teachings—over several sessions. The ritual holds deep spiritual significance among Buddhist communities and is regarded as a prayer for peace, harmony and enlightenment.
Bhikshu Aryapal, founder of the Sleeping Buddha organisation, said hosting the event in the land of the Buddha’s enlightenment carries special meaning. “This year, more than 20,000 Buddhist devotees from 27 countries are participating in the Tripitaka Puja,” he said. “Prayers will be offered for world peace and the welfare of all beings.”
For Bodhgaya, a spiritual centre that draws pilgrims year-round, the ceremony marks another chapter in its evolving global religious presence—one rooted in teachings first shared here more than 2,500 years ago.
