The sacred Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya has been declared to be in excellent health after a routine assessment by scientists from the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, ahead of the winter pilgrimage season.
FRI scientists Santan Barthwal and Shailesh Pandey conducted the assessment on Monday and found no signs of infection or disease on the tree’s leaves, according to the Times of India report. Barthwal said the findings indicated no significant health concerns.
The scientists recommended limited maintenance, including the careful pruning of dead branches and the application of an organic insecticide spray. The measures are intended to preserve the tree’s condition without affecting its long-term stability.
The Bodhi tree stands within the Mahabodhi Mahavihara campus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist religious sites in the world because Prince Siddhartha is believed to have attained enlightenment while meditating under it more than 2,600 years ago.
The assessment was attended by Mahavihara chief monk Bhikkhu Chalinda and caretaker monk Bhikkhu Deenanand. The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee has also signed a memorandum of understanding with FRI for regular monitoring, maintenance and long-term conservation of the tree.
The arrangement gives the temple management committee an institutional framework for continuing scientific oversight of the site’s most important living heritage asset. The recommended pruning and treatment will form part of routine care, rather than an emergency response to disease or structural decline.
The review comes before the winter season, when the Mahabodhi Mahavihara campus is expected to receive a large congregation of Buddhist devotees for the annual World Peace Puja held under the sacred tree. According to the spiritual calendar for winter 2026-27 released by the BTMC, the gathering is among the major religious events scheduled during the season.
The BTMC-FRI monitoring arrangement is expected to continue regular health assessments and conservation work at the site.
