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Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
UP monk held for creating ruckus at Bodh Gaya
Gaya: Police on Wednesday arrested one Bhante Vinacharya , of Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) for trying to create ruckus and indulging in violent activities in support of the ongoing agitation by a section of Buddhist monks since Feb 12 this year. The protesting monks are demanding total control of Buddhists over the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC).District magistrate-cum-BTMC chairman Thiyagarajan SM said, "Despite the fact that the district administration has been helping the agitators to put forward their point at every level, some outsiders are also getting involved in illegal activities in the name of agitation. Several rounds of talks have been held to end the agitation, but to no avail.""The agitators have also met high level officials of state home department, CM's secretariat at Patna. During his visit to Bodh Gaya on Monday, governor Arif Mohammed Khan also met them. As tourists and the devotees from across the world visit Bodh Gaya, known as a place for peace and enlightenment, such illegal activities are causing damage to the image of the heritage city. Such people are being identified through CCTV, videography and strict action is being taken against them," he Anand Kumar said, "Magistrate and the police personnel deployed for security of Mahavihara noticed on Tuesday that under the guise of peaceful agitation, some anti-social elements suddenly started shouting slogans, creating ruckus and indulging in violent activities. During initial investigation, it appeared that the aim of these people was to create tension under the guise of the agitation. Such elements had also made an abortive bid to cause inconvenience to devotees and tourists on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti on Monday."He said on Wednesday, the Bodh Gaya police received a written application from one Anuj Kumar Gupta, a resident of Bodh Gaya."Anuj mentioned that when he reached near the main gate of Mahabodhi Mahavihara on the way home from his shop, some people surrounded him shouting slogans and started beating him up and also abused him. Due to the intervention of other people present there and the police force, he was rescued from those anti-socials," said the the wake of application by Anuj, and after scanning of CCTV footage, Bhante Vinacharya was arrested. On Wednesday, the shopkeepers took out a march to protest the attack on Anuj.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Buddha Purnima: Guv, CM pray for peace and harmony
1 2 3 4 Gaya/Patna: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and CM Nitish Kumar led the Buddha Purnima celebrations in the state on Monday, offering prayers for global peace and the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya , governor Khan, the chief guest at the event organised by the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), prayed at the sanctum sanctorum and presented a robe, flowers, incense sticks and kheer to the statue of Lord Buddha. He also unveiled Prajna-2025, the BTMC's annual bilingual magazine. A peace procession earlier in the day, from the 80-feet Buddha statue to the sacred Bodhi tree, saw participants offer prayers under the world heritage Mahabodhi chairman and district magistrate Thiyagarajan SM highlighted recent developments at the Mahavihara, including the installation of a 180KW solar power plant and the recycling of offered flowers into incense products. The event featured speakers such as International Buddhist Council president Ven N Tenzing Gyatso and Thailand's Upasika Thosporn Wachiraganphen, who spoke on the life and teachings of Patna, CM Nitish Kumar participated in a spiritual programme at Buddha Smriti Park where he offered prayers to Lord Buddha and meditated at the Pataliputra Karuna Stupa. Guided by monks, he worshipped Bodhi trees from Bodh Gaya, Anand, and Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura. "I prayed for the happiness, prosperity, and harmony of the state and the country," he CM also visited the Vipassana Centre, appreciated its facilities and later offered prayers to the Buddhist rock and Bodhi tree at his residence. Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, ministers and MPs also attended the event.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Time of India
Security in Bodh Gaya is always tight: Dist admin
Gaya: With Bihar put on high alert, especially around tourist spots, after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Gaya district officials said on Thursday that the security in Bodh Gaya, especially in and around world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara , has always been tight since the serial bomb blasts in 2013. Bihar State Armed Police (BSAP) has been given command of the security of the Mahavihara. Apart from this, high-resolution night-vision closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at every nook and corner of the premises. District magistrate-cum-Bodh Gaya temple management committee (BTMC) chairman Thiyagarajan S M said apart from the Gaya district and the police administration, the security in and around Bodh Gaya is reviewed at regular interval by senior state officials. "Visitors have to go through three-layer security check to enter the Mahavihara. Electronic security gadgets like baggage scanner, and hand-held as well as door-frame metal detectors are in operation to ensure a foolproof security check at the Mahavihara. Recently, entry with cellphones have been banned on the Mahavihara premises," he said, adding regular patrolling by district police and the tourist police force is being done at all such sites. Gaya: With Bihar put on high alert, especially around tourist spots, after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Gaya district officials said on Thursday that the security in Bodh Gaya, especially in and around world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara, has always been tight since the serial bomb blasts in 2013. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience three trade fairs with just one ticket Undo automatica 2025 Undo Laser World of Photonics Undo World of Quantum Undo Visit automatica: June 24-27, Munich Undo Bihar State Armed Police (BSAP) has been given command of the security of the Mahavihara. Apart from this, high-resolution night-vision closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at every nook and corner of the premises. District magistrate-cum-Bodh Gaya temple management committee (BTMC) chairman Thiyagarajan S M said apart from the Gaya district and the police administration, the security in and around Bodh Gaya is reviewed at regular interval by senior state officials. "Visitors have to go through three-layer security check to enter the Mahavihara. Electronic security gadgets like baggage scanner, and hand-held as well as door-frame metal detectors are in operation to ensure a foolproof security check at the Mahavihara. Recently, entry with cellphones have been banned on the Mahavihara premises," he said, adding regular patrolling by district police and the tourist police force is being done at all such sites.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Officials crack down on policy banning certain items at world-famous temple: 'With immediate effect'
Officials reinforced a plastic ban at the Mahābodhi Mahāvihāra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India earlier this month. This policy was first introduced in 2018 by the Patna High Court, per Buddhistdoor Global. The court showed concern for Muchalinda Lake, the body of water near the temple. Plastic bags used to contain food products purchased from nearby vendors eventually made their way into the lake, threatening local wildlife. The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee announced in 2023 that Mahāvihāra would be a "waste-free and plastic-free zone," and The Times of India reported that the site would upcycle flowers into charcoal-free incense sticks. A notification from the committee secretary earlier this month stated, "BTMC has decided to reinforce the earlier decision to strictly ban the entry and use of … all plastic items inside the premises of Mahāvihāra with immediate effect." While the BTMC is doing something incredible for the environment, other temples have struggled with adjusting to plastic bans while meeting their devotees' needs. The Bangalore Mirror reported in 2016 that some temples, including Vinayaka in Yelahanka New Town, Karnataka, found it difficult to offer affordable poojas to devotees. This was mostly because they had to switch to aluminum foil instead of using plastic cups to contain prasadam. "Devotees believe their pooja is never complete without prasadam," Satyanarayana Sharma, a temple priest, told the Mirror. "With no plastic available, we requested devotees to bring their own boxes. However, many of them wouldn't do so. … To avoid unnecessary problems, we have discontinued several pooja services." An official for another temple, Mutturayaswamy, said they were looking into using cloth bags to contain prasadam for devotees. Do you think the government should ban gas-powered lawn tools? No way Definitely Only certain tools I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. As for Mahāvihāra, the BTMC secretary said, per the Times, "As an alternative, all are requested to use environmentally friendly paper and cloth bags, bamboo baskets, terracotta bowls and handmade snacks for offerings." While it is unclear if Mahāvihāra will adjust the containers it may offer, the BTMC is looking to install solar panels both at Mahāvihāra and its office as it continues to introduce green practices to the temple. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
