Thai devotees offer special prayers in Bodh Gaya

Buddhist devotees from Thailand offered special prayers for peace at Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

Bodh Gaya, Dec 1 : Buddhist devotees from Thailand offered special prayers for peace at Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

In the footsteps of Lord Buddha, the 77-member delegation began a colourful march from Kushagras temple situated at the eastern bank of the river Niranjana and concluding at the Mahabodhi temple on Friday.

The Thai pilgrims belonging to Pysodyan Foundation, a religious organisation in Thailand, wore traditional attire, with men dressed like kings and women like princesses.

"We are representatives of Pysodyan foundation. We are doing procession in order to worship Lord Buddha. Now, we are so happy and delightful...He is an inspiration for our lives all time," said Trena Pang, a Thai devotee.

Thai devotees also offered such prayers at other Buddhist pilgrim centres before rounding off their 12-day tour in the holy town of Bodh Gaya.

"With this march and traditional attire, they are trying to follow in the footsteps of Gautam Buddha. Gods and goddesses showered flowers from the sky when he attained enlightenment. The march is a symbolic obeisance to Lord Buddha," said Akhilesh Kumar Singh, a tour operator.

Lord Buddha attained enlightenment while doing penance under the Bodhi tree near the temple here.

Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism, was born a prince at Lumbini in Nepal over 2,600 years ago.

ANI