Mahabodhi temple preservation gets Unesco backing
2
3
4
Gaya:
Unesco
director Tim Curtis has reviewed the ongoing conservation and maintenance work at the Mahabodhi temple in
Bodh Gaya
, the revered site of Buddha's enlightenment and a world heritage monument.
His two-day visit concluded on Saturday.
Curtis examined the preservation measures and discussed Unesco's continued support for safeguarding the temple's integrity in line with global heritage conservation standards. He reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to working closely with local authorities and the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) to ensure the iconic heritage site is preserved for future generations.
During his visit, Curtis joined evening prayers in both the Theravada and Mahayana traditions, performed by venerable monks from different nations in the sanctum sanctorum. He offered lamps, incense sticks and flowers before the statue of Buddha, accompanied by the chanting of sacred sutras, and meditated under the sacred Bodhi tree.
The Mahabodhi temple was inscribed as a world heritage site on June 29, 2002. In addition to serving as Unesco's Delhi-based director, Curtis is the organisation's representative for monitoring heritage operations in South Asian countries including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
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When the temple received its world heritage status, Rathi Vinay Jha, then secretary of the department of tourism and culture, signed the agreement on behalf of the govt of India, committing to its conservation in accordance with Unesco guidelines.
Unesco's recommendations emphasised preserving the shrine's spiritual atmosphere. They called for a two-tier buffer zone – within 1km of the outer wall, only ground-floor structures vital for religious use and sympathetic in design to the site are permitted; between one and two kilometres, buildings must not exceed 44 feet and should reflect Bodh Gaya's traditional architectural style.
Lowering the eastern boundary wall was also advised to improve the shrine's visibility.
These measures aim to maintain the serenity of the site for meditation and prevent intrusive concrete structures that could diminish its spiritual character.
Curtis was received at the temple by chief priest Ven Bhikkhu Chalinda. BTMC secretary Mahashweta Maharathi and Virendra Singh, superintending archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India, briefed him on the site's ongoing development. Maharathi told this newspaper that the Unesco director was "entirely satisfied" with the committee's work.
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