Gaya: An international delegation of 22 social media influencers from across Asia visited the Mahabodhi Mahavihara, a Unesco World Heritage Site, on Monday.The delegation, comprising influencers from Bhutan, Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand, visited the shrine as part of India’s ongoing public diplomacy outreach.According to a press release issued by the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), member secretary Mahashweta Maharathi, Mahavihara chief priest Bhikkhu Chalinda and caretaker monk Bhikkhu Dinanand welcomed the delegation and briefed them on the historical and religious significance of the heritage site, which attracts pilgrims and tourists from across the globe.The delegates toured the temple complex, offered prayers in the sanctum sanctorum and meditated under the sacred Bodhi tree.They expressed admiration for the Mahavihara’s “spiritual aura” and “architectural grandeur”. Many documented their visit and shared content with their global followers, contributing to the promotion of Buddhist tourism and India’s cultural diplomacy initiatives.The visit is part of the govt’s initiative to encourage tourists to stay longer in Bodh Gaya, boosting the local economy and generating employment opportunities.
