Festivals and Events in Bodhgaya

"Jerusalem is a festival and a lamentation. Its song is a sigh across the ages, a delicate, robust, mournful psalm at the great junction of spiritual cultures."
David K Shipler

Like Jerusalem, Festivals and Events in Bodhgaya too might prove to be a festival and a lamentation for the modern world knows only to celebrate outwardly and lacks the power to delve in to the core, the inner meaning of a gala. Though according to Buddha, "Ahimsa Parama Dharma", yet we don't practise peace (Ahimsa) and go for unnecessary violence. However, during the time of celebration, it's indeed become a moment for joy and happiness and such intellectual thoughts like whether it's a mournful psalm at the great junction of spiritual cultures are left back.

In the month of April, Bodhgaya celebrates Buddha Jayanti, which falls on the full moon night in the month of Vaisakha (according to Hindu calendar). This magnificent gala commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. During this time pilgrims come from all over the world to attend the celebrations without caring for the summer heat. Buddha Jayanti is marked with prayer meets, sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourses, continuous recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions, worship of the statue of Buddha and symposia. At this time, Festivals and Events in Bodhgaya in the form of Buddha Jayanti presents Mahabodhi Temple with a festive look and decoration with colorful flags and flowers.

Festivals and Events in Bodhgaya encompass the birth anniversary of Anagrika Dharmapala in the month of September. Besides, the birth and death anniversaries of Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14th April and 6th December are also observed in this city. On 6th August, Hiroshima Day is celebrated here.

Moreover, there is another unique event named the Kalachakra ceremony which is held for about ten days each year and presided over by his Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal head of Tibetan Buddhists.