Thousands of devotees from Sri Lanka and other countries have been visiting Bodh Gaya since the early hours of today to offer prayers and pay homage at the sacred Mahabodhi Temple on the auspicious occasion of Lord Buddha’s 2569th birth anniversary.
The Mahabodhi Temple complex—revered as the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree—witnessed long queues of pilgrims carrying flowers and chanting prayers in deep reverence, according to Indian media reports.
This year’s Buddha Jayanti celebrations are being held from May 11 to 13.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the three-day event and safeguard the large number of visitors, authorities have deployed heavy security across Bodh Gaya. CCTV surveillance and a strong police presence have been established throughout the temple town.
The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been beautifully decorated with lights and flowers for the occasion.
In addition to Sri Lankan pilgrims, devotees from Thailand, Japan, Myanmar, Bhutan, and India were seen making traditional offerings and meditating in silence, reports said.
