Bihar to host international Buddhist conclave in which as many as historians and Buddists and travel operators from different countries are expected to participate at Bodh Gaya

PATNA: Bihar is gearing itself to organise a first ever international Buddhist conclave in which as many as 300 scholars, historians and Buddhists and travel operators from 30 countries including from US and Europe are expected to participate at Bodh Gaya on September 30. The first day of the two-day conclave would held at Varanasi on September 29.
Bihar's top officials are busy in monitoring the arrangements for the visiting international distinguished guests. CM Nitish Kumar is likely to be the chief guest on this occasion. In order to make it eventful, department of tourism, government of Bihar, has invited a tender for the event manager for organising forthcoming International Buddha Conclave. Three event management firms one from Bangalore and another from Delhi have participated in the bid. It would be finalised by early next month, said an official.
The department of tourism is busy preparing a probable list of gift items to be presented to the each visiting delegates. Eco-friendly material bag and a copy of a coffee table book "Buddha is calling" on foot trails of Lord Buddha, pen drive of suitable capacity containing fine quality documentary film of Bodhgaya and Buddhist circuit of Bihar besides a brochure and map of Buddhist circuit.
Live on- line presentation of 360 virtual tours of Buddhist pilgrimage sites (covering foot trails of Lord Buddha) during the conclave at the stall by the department). The department of tourism created an interactive website in which all the important tourists site can witnessed through its virtual tours. Now online booking of hotels and cars can be done. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar will formally inaugurate it on August 15 this year, said director Bihar tourism D K Srivastava.
Gala dinner of approximate 300 persons (sitting arrangement will be in form of round table say 60 round table each with 5 chairs) in the pandal itself. The menu will be traditional Indian, continental and intercontinental (only vegetarian). It will be approved by the tourism department before organising.
Momento will be given to all the participating delegates. The stone sculptor of the Patharkatti village in Aurangabad district & a quality shawl printed with "Buddham Sharanam Gacchami" slogan-(source-from Nepura & Basawanbigha villages in Nalanda district) will be gifted to the guests.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is likely to inaugurate Mahabodhi Conclave in Sarnath on September 29, said Bihar tourism minister Sunil Kumar “Pintu”. Chief minister Nitish Kumar has also been invited to attend the ceremony.

Over 300 delegates from 30 different countries are expected to take part in the conclave, a two-day event organised by the Union tourism ministry in Sarnath and Bodhgaya.

While the first day of the conclave would be held in Sarnath, near Varanasi, the venue would shift to Bodhgaya on the second day. The delegates would discuss philosophy and spiritualism of Lord Buddha with Buddhist scholars on the two days of the conclave.

Nitish is expected to attend the second day of the conclave in Bodhgaya, “Pintu” said on Thursday.

The tourism minister would be present at the conclave on both the days. “Pintu” will represent Bihar on the first day of the conclave in Sarnath and would return to Bodhgaya by air with the delegates on September 30.

 “The conclave will be a historical event in Bodhgaya after the 10-day Kalchakra Puja, which was led by the Dalai Lama this year. The tourism department has started preparations for the conclave. Arrangements on a par with international standard are being made for the foreign delegates who will visit the heritage city of Bodhgaya. The urban development department has been given the responsibility of maintaining the cleanliness in the city. Sanitation work will be outsourced to agencies in and around Bodhgaya.”

The minister said: “A special kit comprising information about Bihar’s culture and the different tourist destinations of the state is being prepared for the delegates. The tourism department has also started booking hotels to accommodate the guests in Bodhgaya and Gaya.”

“Pintu” said the delegates would visit the world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodhgaya and other places in the Buddhist circuit, including Nalanda, Rajgir and Pawapuri. The visit to the Buddhist circuit would be finalised according to the delegates’ schedule.

The tourism department would also host a dinner in honour of the foreign delegates following the initiative of Nitish Kumar on September 30.