Golden moment for Bodh Gaya temple

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Golden moment for Bodh Gaya temple

Saturday, 30 November 2013 | Amarnath Tewary | Patna

Golden moment for Bodh Gaya temple

The holiest place for Buddhist pilgrims worldwide, Mahabodhi temple of Bodh Gaya cherished a golden moment when the process of plating its huge spire with pure gold weighing about 300 kg was completed on Friday. The gold was donated by Buddhist pilgrims from Thailand, including the queen of the country.

“Installation of gold plate to the temple spire was over on Friday. The temple now looked sparkling and attractive,” said N Dorjee, secretary of the Buddhist Temple Management Committee.

The first phase of the work involving chemical treatment was completed in August to prepare the foundation for gold plating.The ancient 180-feet structure of the Mahabodhi temple is estimated to have been built between the 5th and 6th century AD.

The Bodh Gaya temple, a world heritage site declared by UNESCO is a holiest temple for Buddhist pilgrims from across the world. The Buddhist devotees throng the temple in large number every year to offer their prayer to the place where lord Buddha had attained enlightenment.

Of late, on July 7 there was a series of bomb explosions allegedly by the Indian Mujahideen operatives inside the temple premises.

last year, some Buddhist pilgrims, including queen of the country had reportedly visited the 1,500 years old Buddhist temple and decided to inlay the temple dome with gold for giving its sparkling look. They also contacted Archaeological Survey of Indian (ASI) officials to get the required permission.

later, a team of technical experts from Thailand visited Bodh Gaya and took the measurement and requirement of gold for the project.

A team of over 200 officials, experts, technicians, engineers and devotees came to Bodh Gaya in early October and started covering the temple spire with gold.

A team of about 40 Thai commandos too had come along the visiting staff and they continued guarding the gold plating of the temple dome.

Altogether 289 kgs of gold was used in the plaiting the temple spire and all the glittering metal had come from Buddhist country Thailand.

“Thanks to the 289 kg of gold donated by queen of Thailand and Buddhist devotees from the country. The temple has not only become richer but it has a different look now,” said the temple secretary.All the gold was flown in a special plane from Bangkok.

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