PUNE, Mar 10: A sit-in protest was staged in Pune demanding that the management rights of the historic Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Gaya, Bihar, be handed over entirely to the Buddhist community.
The agitation was organized by the Bhikkhu Sangha from the Pune region at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Garden, located in front of the District Collector’s office.
Several Buddhist monks and members of the Bhikkhu Sangha participated in the protest, including Bhante Dr. Nagghosh Mahathero, Bhante Buddhaghosh Mahathero, Bhante Shakyaputra, Bhante Rajratna, Shakyaputra Rahul, Dhammarakhit, Bhante Payyarakkhit, Bhante Dhammanand, Bhante Anand, Bhante Sachit Bodhi, Bhante Milind, Bhante Priyadarshi, Bhante Sanghpal and Bhante Yash.
On the occasion, Pune’s Deputy Mayor Parshuram Wadekar paid ceremonial tribute to the portraits of Gautam Buddha and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Former MLA Jaydev Gaikwad, Rahul Dambale, corporators Nandini Dhende and Nilesh Alhat, along with Balasaheb Janrao, Vasantrao Salve, Shailesh Chavan, Bhagwanrao Vairat, Mahendra Kamble, Rohidas Gaikwad and Nilesh Gaikwad, were present. Thousands of citizens joined the protest in support of the demand.
A large number of members from the Buddhist community and the Bhikkhu Sangha took part in the demonstration, raising slogans demanding that the administration of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara be transferred to Buddhist followers.
Protesters stated that the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Gaya is the sacred site where Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment, and that the temple complex was originally built by Emperor Ashoka in ancient times. They pointed out that despite the site’s immense historical and spiritual importance to Buddhists worldwide, its current management includes non-Buddhist members.
The protesters emphasized that the Mahabodhi Mahavihara is a global center of Buddhist heritage and should be administered entirely under the supervision of the Buddhist community. They also said that Buddhists across the country are uniting and organizing nationwide protests to press for this demand.
(UNI)
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