Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Bodh Gaya on Saturday morning amid tight security to participate in the concluding ceremony of the three-day International Buddhist conclave in which delegates from 47 countries, including former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, have come to attend.
Modi was received by the Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind and Minister Shyam Razak at Gaya’s airport. This is Modi’s first visit as prime minister to Bodh Gaya, a holy place for Buddhists, about 110 km from here.
Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee secretary N. Dorjee said Modi will attend the ceremony in the temple premises.Modi will address monks and religious heads of several countries, attend a special prayer and visit a photo exhibition on the Buddhist heritage and the holy relics of Lord Buddha at the Mahabodhi Society of India.
PM Modi along with Bihar Governor reached Mahabodhi temple and offered prayer there for few minutes. Later, he sat beneath the holy Buddhist tree along with foreign delegates for meditation.
According to police officials, Bodh Gaya has been turned into a fortress and a 16-member Special Protection Group (SPG) team has been monitoring the security arrangements.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar was not present for the event in Gaya. The Maoists had called for a ‘bandh’ of Magadh in view of the PM's visit to Bodh Gaya.
