Gaya: Bodh Gaya is expected to witness a massive influx of domestic and international pilgrims and tourists during the upcoming spiritual tourism season beginning in late Aug, with the world-famous Pitripaksh Mela in Gaya also contributing significantly to the overall footfall.While the annual Buddhist spiritual calendar will commence on Aug 27, the Pitripaksh Mela in Gaya town is scheduled to be held from Sept 25 to Oct 10, attracting lakhs of devotees for performing pind daan, tarpan and shraddha rituals. Both the Pitripaksh Mela and the spiritual calendar in Bodh Gaya are expected to draw lakhs of devotees and tourists, providing a boost to the economy of the twin cities.The Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) has officially released the annual schedule of world peace prayers and religious ceremonies to be organised at the Unesco world heritage site, Mahabodhi Mahavihara, during the 2026-27 tourist season.According to the list of 37 events scheduled between Aug 27 and March 5, issued jointly by BTMC member secretary Mahashweta Maharathi and Mahavihara chief monk Bhikkhu Chalinda on July 15, the spiritual calendar will begin with the Sangh Dana prayer on Aug 27. The holy town will host a series of Monlam prayers, international chanting ceremonies and meditation retreats aimed at promoting global harmony.The calendar includes a 49-day retreat focusing on the Shurangama Mantra and Ksitigarbha Sutra from Sept 7 to Oct 31 at the meditation park within the Mahavihara premises. Delegations from Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand and Japan will lead extended chanting ceremonies during the period.Among the major events are the 15-day fifth Vietnamese Tipitaka Chanting from Nov 14 to 28 and the 21st International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony from Dec 2 to 12, which is expected to draw thousands of Theravada monks and Buddhist practitioners from across the world.The latter half of Dec and early Jan will witness large congregations of devotees from different Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Major events include the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo of the Kagyu sect from Dec 13 to 22, the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo for world peace of the Nyingma sect from Jan 8 to 17, the 5th Ladakh Jammon Chenmo from Dec 24 to Jan 2, the Sakya Monlam from Dec 25 to Jan 1, and the 23rd Dechod Monlam from Jan 2 to 6.Along with the event calendar, the BTMC has also issued an advisory directing organisers to strictly follow security protocols. Prior permission from the committee will be mandatory for erecting welcome gates, temporary tents, sheds or floral decorations within the Mahavihara premises. Organisers have also been instructed to issue identity cards to all participants, clearly mentioning the dates of their respective events.
