Patna: The dome of Bodh Gaya's 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple, Buddhism's holiest shrine, has been inlaid with nearly 300 kg gold donated by devotees from Thailand -- giving the shrine a new look.
"A team of technical experts from Thailand has completed work to gold-plate the dome and final touches were given to it Wednesday," the temple's chief monk Bikhshu Chalinda said Thursday.
Chalinda told IANS over telephone from Bodh Gaya, about 110 km from here, that the temple's dome had become more attractive and beautiful after it was inlaid with gold.
"Thanks to the 289 kg of gold donated by the Thai King's treasury and Buddhist devotees from Thailand, the temple has not only become richer but it has a different look," he said.
According to him, more than 200 Thai devotees, mostly those who donated gold, are camping in the temple premises since Wednesday to offer prayers.
