Bodh Gaya tourism is set for a major winter season as more than 1,000 monks from Buddhist countries attended the Maha Kathina Civara Dana robe-offering ceremony at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara, prompting authorities to begin preparations for an expected increase in visitors. The ceremony was held under the sacred Bodhi tree on Sunday and was organised by the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee.
Monks from Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar and other Buddhist countries participated in the event. Mahavihara caretaker monk Bhikkhu Manoj said the ceremony marks the conclusion of Varshawaas, the three-month rainy retreat from July to September during which monks remain at their monasteries for meditation and prayers.
Under Buddhist tradition, devotees offer new robes and other essentials to monks after the retreat. The conclusion of the ceremony also marks the beginning of a series of international religious events at the Mahavihara during the 2026-27 winter season.
The upcoming programme includes the 15-day fifth Vietnamese Tipitaka Chanting from November 14 to 28, followed by the 11-day 21st International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony from December 2 to 12. The 10-day Kagyu Monlam Chenmo is scheduled from December 13 to 22. The winter season of world peace pujas will conclude with the five-day third Thailand Chanting Ceremony from March 1 to 5.
With several events expected to draw devotees and tourists from India and abroad, Union MSME minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Bihar assembly Speaker Prem Kumar chaired a review meeting on Saturday evening. District and police officials, along with representatives of hotels, travel organisations and Buddhist groups, were directed to prepare a comprehensive plan for promoting tourism and managing visitors.
The review places traffic and parking capacity at the centre of Bodh Gaya’s preparations. District magistrate-cum-Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee chairman Shashank Shubhankar directed officials to prepare a detailed traffic management plan within four days. The plan is to identify separate parking zones for heavy vehicles, light vehicles and e-rickshaws, as well as high-capacity parking areas.
The directions indicate that visitor management will require coordination between public agencies and local tourism operators. The involvement of hotels, travel organisations and Buddhist groups is intended to connect crowd planning with the services used by pilgrims and tourists during the event calendar.
Authorities also reviewed the Mahavihara’s physical infrastructure. Shubhankar directed officials to ensure uniform painting across the premises and ordered that decorative lights on the monument’s main dome remain switched on throughout the night. The stated aim is to keep the landmark visible from a distance as visitor numbers rise.
The immediate administrative deadline is the preparation of the traffic management plan within four days. The next major scheduled event at the Mahavihara is the Vietnamese Tipitaka Chanting, beginning on November 14.
