Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bodh Gaya on Saturday and prayed at the Mahabodhi temple, Buddhism's holiest shrine, an official said.
"Soon after arriving at Gaya airport , Modi went straight to the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple, where he offered prayers," Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee secretary N. Dorjee said.
After offering prayers, Modi circumambulated the Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment 2,550 years ago.
The prime minister was in Body Gaya to attend the concluding ceremony of a three-day international Buddhist conclave.
Modi was received by Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind and Food Minister Minister Shyam Razak at Gaya airport.
This is Modi's first visit as prime minister to Bodh Gaya, a holy place for Buddhists, about 110 km from here.
Modi also attended the ceremony in the temple premises. Heads of delegations of 90 countries, including former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga and the foreign ministers of Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Taiwan were present.
Modi addressed monks and religious heads of several countries and attended a special prayer and visited a photo exhibition on the Buddhist heritage and the holy relics of Lord Buddha at the Mahabodhi Society of India.
According to police officials, Bodh Gaya has been turned into a fortress and a 16-member Special Protection Group (SPG) team has been monitoring the security arrangements.
