Bodh Gaya/Patna: A group of 850 Buddhist pilgrims from Maharashtra arrived in Bodh Gaya on Thursday aboard a special train arranged by the Maharashtra government. The pilgrims visited the Mahabodhi Temple, where they offered prayers and paid homage to Lord Buddha before touring other Buddhist sites in the town.
Pilgrims Offer Prayers At Mahabodhi Temple
After reaching Bodh Gaya, the devotees visited the Mahabodhi Temple complex and performed special prayers inside the sanctum. They later toured several other Buddhist heritage sites associated with the life and teachings of the Buddha.
Rajgir And Nalanda Visit Scheduled
The pilgrimage will continue on Friday with visits to the historic and religious sites in Rajgir and Nalanda. The group is scheduled to return to Maharashtra by the same special train on Saturday.
Free Travel For Economically Weaker Devotees
Pilgrims said the Maharashtra government had provided the special train service free of cost, enabling many economically weaker Buddhist devotees to undertake the pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya and other important Buddhist destinations.
Pilgrims Welcome Government Initiative
Several pilgrims welcomed the initiative, saying such government-supported pilgrimage programmes make it easier for people to visit important religious and historical sites. They said the initiative had provided an opportunity for a larger number of devotees to experience India’s Buddhist heritage firsthand.
