The Bodhgaya Temple Advisory Board (BTAB) Meeting was convened on Monday, 23rd February 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the ITC WelcomHotel, Bodhgaya. Her Excellency the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to India, Ms. Mahishini Colonnee, was nominated to preside over the meeting. Her gracious presence added solemn dignity to the proceedings, reflecting the deep spiritual and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and the sacred land of Bodhgaya. At the outset, traditional khadaas, along with a sacred plant and a framed Bodhi Leaf, were presented to the Hon’ble Members of the BTAB as a gesture of reverence and welcome. The ceremonial felicitation was performed by the Chief Monk of the Mahabodhi Temple, Bhikkhu Chalinda; Caretaker Monk, Bhikkhu Deenanand; and Member-Secretary, Dr. Mahashweta Maharathi, BTMC. The Hon’ble Commissioner, Magadh Division, Dr. Safeena A.N., IAS, Member Secretary of BTAB, formally welcomed the august gathering and read out the proceedings of the Minutes of the previous BTAB Meeting held in 2024. Mr. Shashank Shubankar, the District Magistrate, Gaya-cum-Chairman of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, Presented the Present Status and Developments in Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple Complex Bodhgaya, He also presented a comprehensive report outlining the recent developments, conservation initiatives, and ongoing projects pertaining to the Mahabodhi Temple Complex and throw light on the proposed Mahabodhi Corridor project. Apart from Her Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, the meeting was attended by the Consul Generals of Thailand, Laos, Mongolia, Bhutan, Mr. Prashant Agrawal, Additional Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi and Vice-chancellor, Prof. Wangchuk Dorjee Negi, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Secretary and the Director of the Karmik & Adhyatmik, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Esteemed representatives from the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Director, Tourism, Government of Bihar, Director, Director, Directorate of Museum/Archaeology, Government of Bihar, Patna, Additional Director General (Archaeology), Government of India, New Delhi, Mr. T.J. Alone, Superintending Archaeologist for Patna. Circle, Shri Hari Om, Chairperson, Nagar Parishad, Bodhgaya, Smt. Lalita Devi, Executive Officer, Nagar Parishad, Bodhgaya, Inspector, Security in-charge, Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Commandant, BSAF were present at the meeting. Shri Sushil Kumar, IPS, Senior Superintendent of Police, Gaya, Shri Kota Kiran Kumar, IPS, City SP, Gaya also attended the Meeting. Chief Monk, Bhikkhu Chalinda, Caretaker Monk, Bhikkhu Deenanand, Dr. Arvind Kumar Singh and Mr. Kiran Lama, Members BTMC were Special Invitees. Members present contributed valuable insights toward the preservation and holistic development of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mementos on behalf of the BTAB were presented to the Hon'ble Members and the meeting concluded with a renewed collective commitment to safeguarding the sanctity, heritage, and global spiritual significance of Bodhgaya — the land of Enlightenment. A Group Photography was done followed by Lunch within the premises.

त्रिलोकी नाथ

Gaya Town C.D.Block, Bihar•

3 hrs ago

The Bodhgaya Temple Advisory Board (BTAB) Meeting was convened on Monday, 23rd February 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the ITC WelcomHotel, Bodhgaya. Her Excellency the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to India, Ms. Mahishini Colonnee, was nominated to preside over the meeting. Her gracious presence added solemn dignity to the proceedings, reflecting the deep spiritual and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and the sacred land of Bodhgaya. At the outset, traditional khadaas, along with a sacred plant and a framed Bodhi Leaf, were presented to the Hon’ble Members of the BTAB as a gesture of reverence and welcome. The ceremonial felicitation was performed by the Chief Monk of the Mahabodhi Temple, Bhikkhu Chalinda; Caretaker Monk, Bhikkhu Deenanand; and Member-Secretary, Dr. Mahashweta Maharathi, BTMC. The Hon’ble Commissioner, Magadh Division, Dr. Safeena A.N., IAS, Member Secretary of BTAB, formally welcomed the august gathering and read out the proceedings of the Minutes of the previous BTAB Meeting held in 2024. Mr. Shashank Shubankar, the District Magistrate, Gaya-cum-Chairman of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, Presented the Present Status and Developments in Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple Complex Bodhgaya, He also presented a comprehensive report outlining the recent developments, conservation initiatives, and ongoing projects pertaining to the Mahabodhi Temple Complex and throw light on the proposed Mahabodhi Corridor project. Apart from Her Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, the meeting was attended by the Consul Generals of Thailand, Laos, Mongolia, Bhutan, Mr. Prashant Agrawal, Additional Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi and Vice-chancellor, Prof. Wangchuk Dorjee Negi, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Secretary and the Director of the Karmik & Adhyatmik, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. Esteemed representatives from the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Director, Tourism, Government of Bihar, Director, Director, Directorate of Museum/Archaeology, Government of Bihar, Patna, Additional Director General (Archaeology), Government of India, New Delhi, Mr. T.J. Alone, Superintending Archaeologist for Patna. Circle, Shri Hari Om, Chairperson, Nagar Parishad, Bodhgaya, Smt. Lalita Devi, Executive Officer, Nagar Parishad, Bodhgaya, Inspector, Security in-charge, Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Commandant, BSAF were present at the meeting. Shri Sushil Kumar, IPS, Senior Superintendent of Police, Gaya, Shri Kota Kiran Kumar, IPS, City SP, Gaya also attended the Meeting. Chief Monk, Bhikkhu Chalinda, Caretaker Monk, Bhikkhu Deenanand, Dr. Arvind Kumar Singh and Mr. Kiran Lama, Members BTMC were Special Invitees. Members present contributed valuable insights toward the preservation and holistic development of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mementos on behalf of the BTAB were presented to the Hon'ble Members and the meeting concluded with a renewed collective commitment to safeguarding the sanctity, heritage, and global spiritual significance of Bodhgaya — the land of Enlightenment. A Group Photography was done followed by Lunch within the premises.