IIM, Bodh Gaya concluded its annual leadership summit, Netritva.

Source – indiaeducationdiary.in

Bodh Gaya: Indian Institute of Management, Bodh Gaya is concluded its annual leadership summit, Netritva on 24th November 2019. The first day of the event began with a tree plantation drive by the guests. The guests, with assistance from volunteers from Pragati, the CSR Club of IIM Bodh Gaya, planted saplings of various trees, paying homage to the Mahabodhi Tree. After the plantation drive, the guests were welcomed in traditional Indian fashion to the auditorium, Bhoomi. The guests, who include leaders from the corporate world, and stalwart figures of the media world, were welcomed to Netritva, and IIM Bodh Gaya by our director, Dr Vinita Sahay. In her welcome speech, Dr Sahay spoke of Netritva, as an enigmatic yet simple word, and how in the gathering people are aspiring to be leaders and those who are already leaders. She spoke of the necessity of premier schools to work towards creating leaders of the future words. Her welcome address was received by the guests with a round of applause. This was followed by the lighting of the lamp to inaugurate the auspicious event.
The first session of Netritva was a keynote address by Mr Gaurav Sangtani, President, Jigyasa Foundation. In his speech titled “Power of Disagreement: Diversity of Thought”, he quoted Aristotle, “It is a mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it.” He spoke of a different kind of diversity, diversity of thought, and how it is as important as diversity in workplaces for a business to success. He touched on the aspect of groupthink, and how it differing opinions are essential for the working of a business. He highlighted the major challenges in ensuring diversity of thought and suggested how to overcome these. His enlightening speech was enthusiastically applauded by the students.
The second session was a panel discussion on the topic, “Diversity in Leadership Roles”. The panel was aimed at celebrating the women leaders of modern India. The panellists were Ms Amita Karadkhedkar, VP, Citibank, Ms Yamini Krishnan, Director – HR, IQVIA, Ms Aparajita Roy, Director HR, PHFI, Ms Saswati Sinha, Head – HR, Cheil India, and Ms Mehak Mahajan, Director – Business Operations, ZestMoney. Moderating the panel was Ms Nishtha Gautam, Opinion Editor, The Quint. The panel opened with the moderator. The panellists spoke of all forms of diversities present in organizations today and how they are being addressed in the present context.
The sessions resumed after a tea break with a keynote address by Dr Rajeev Bhadauria, Ebullient. He spoke on “Learning to Manage the Future that has arrived- applying the changed rules of the Game or revisiting/ reconfiguring the Game itself”. He speech revolved around preparing to become leaders in the world of Industry 4.0 and Web 5.0. He provided the students with guidelines to overcome challenges in this new world and coming out on top.
The fourth and final session of the day was a media panel. The panellists were Ms Nishtha Gautam, Mr Bibhu Ranjan Mishra, Associate Editor & Chief of Bureau, Business Standard, Mr Danish Manzoor, Editorial Director (Asia), Newsweek Group and Ms Deepshikha Sikarwar, Senior Editor, The Economic Times. The panel deliberated on the topic “Changing Landscapes of Newsrooms”. The panel contemplated how the rigidity and hierarchy in newsrooms have been set aside with the advent of digital and social media. They also reflected on the problems brought about this sudden rise of these platforms.
After a very successful first day, Netritva continued to its second and final day in IIM Bodh Gaya. The day began with a keynote address by Mr Harsh Kumar, Executive Director, IBM. The topic of his speech was “The Cognitive Enterprise – Perspectives of the Industry”. The main theme of his enlightening talk revolved around how regular organizations are absorbing innovation in present times. According to him, “Disruptive environmental forces are driving seismic shifts within the Industry”. He spoke of how organizations fail to adapt to rapid technological development and disappear. He highlighted several points for organizations to implement to survive and thrive in this world of disruptive development. He also shared some guidelines for the students to follow for succeeding in Industry 4.0.
The next in the programme was the third and final panel discussion of Netritva 2019. The esteemed panellists were Mr Rakesh Singhania, Chief Finance Officer, Wells Fargo India, Ms Shrabani Basu, Vice President, Human Resources, Reliance Industries Ltd., Mr Sanjay Chandel, Vice President and Head, Human Resources, Sterling India, and Mr Satyajit Mohanty, Chief Human Resources Officer, Crompton Greaves. The moderator for the panel was Mr Rajeev Bhadauria, Managing Partner, Ebullient. The discussions in the panel revolved around the topic “Biggest Challenges faced by Leaders of Modern India”. Mr Bhadauria opened the discussion by distinguishing a leader from a manager. In his words, a manager does things systematically, while a leader takes a systemic approach to any work. He also defined modernity as an aspect of the state of a person’s mind. He presented two aspects of modernity – a scientific attitude, and a humanistic perspective. Ms Shrabani Basu drew instances from her long and illustrious career in Human Resources to identify career derailment as the biggest challenge for leadership. She suggested that jobs should be augmented with the ability to cope with challenges to overcome this problem. Mr Sanjay Chandel emphasized on the importance of learning for effective and efficient leadership. His advice to the students was that learning cannot stop, no matter what the station or occasion and a learning organization are essential for growth. Mr Rakesh Singhania pointed out that leadership cannot be effective without trust from the employees. Only when employees trust the leader can the organization reach new heights. Mr Satyajit Mohanty provided two suggestions for organizations to help create learning organizations. First, the organization must set goals which make people learn, and second, the organization must create an environment where learning is not hindered for people working in it. Once the panel opened for questions, the guests, and the students and teachers of IIM Bodh Gaya actively participated in the discussion with the panellists. The students gained many insights regarding leadership and its challenges from the discussion.
The end of the panel marked the conclusion of Netritva, the Leadership Summit of IIM Bodh Gaya. The Director of the Institute, Dr Vinita Sahay delivered the vote of thanks and felicitated the guests with a memento. In her speech, she praised the efforts of the volunteers for the event for managing it successfully and commended the Media & PR Cell and Placement Committee, IIM Bodh Gaya for successfully organizing the event.

IIM, Bodh Gaya concluded its annual leadership summit, Netritva.

Source – indiaeducationdiary.in

Bodh Gaya: Indian Institute of Management, Bodh Gaya is concluded its annual leadership summit, Netritva on 24th November 2019. The first day of the event began with a tree plantation drive by the guests. The guests, with assistance from volunteers from Pragati, the CSR Club of IIM Bodh Gaya, planted saplings of various trees, paying homage to the Mahabodhi Tree. After the plantation drive, the guests were welcomed in traditional Indian fashion to the auditorium, Bhoomi. The guests, who include leaders from the corporate world, and stalwart figures of the media world, were welcomed to Netritva, and IIM Bodh Gaya by our director, Dr Vinita Sahay. In her welcome speech, Dr Sahay spoke of Netritva, as an enigmatic yet simple word, and how in the gathering people are aspiring to be leaders and those who are already leaders. She spoke of the necessity of premier schools to work towards creating leaders of the future words. Her welcome address was received by the guests with a round of applause. This was followed by the lighting of the lamp to inaugurate the auspicious event.
The first session of Netritva was a keynote address by Mr Gaurav Sangtani, President, Jigyasa Foundation. In his speech titled “Power of Disagreement: Diversity of Thought”, he quoted Aristotle, “It is a mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it.” He spoke of a different kind of diversity, diversity of thought, and how it is as important as diversity in workplaces for a business to success. He touched on the aspect of groupthink, and how it differing opinions are essential for the working of a business. He highlighted the major challenges in ensuring diversity of thought and suggested how to overcome these. His enlightening speech was enthusiastically applauded by the students.
The second session was a panel discussion on the topic, “Diversity in Leadership Roles”. The panel was aimed at celebrating the women leaders of modern India. The panellists were Ms Amita Karadkhedkar, VP, Citibank, Ms Yamini Krishnan, Director – HR, IQVIA, Ms Aparajita Roy, Director HR, PHFI, Ms Saswati Sinha, Head – HR, Cheil India, and Ms Mehak Mahajan, Director – Business Operations, ZestMoney. Moderating the panel was Ms Nishtha Gautam, Opinion Editor, The Quint. The panel opened with the moderator. The panellists spoke of all forms of diversities present in organizations today and how they are being addressed in the present context.
The sessions resumed after a tea break with a keynote address by Dr Rajeev Bhadauria, Ebullient. He spoke on “Learning to Manage the Future that has arrived- applying the changed rules of the Game or revisiting/ reconfiguring the Game itself”. He speech revolved around preparing to become leaders in the world of Industry 4.0 and Web 5.0. He provided the students with guidelines to overcome challenges in this new world and coming out on top.
The fourth and final session of the day was a media panel. The panellists were Ms Nishtha Gautam, Mr Bibhu Ranjan Mishra, Associate Editor & Chief of Bureau, Business Standard, Mr Danish Manzoor, Editorial Director (Asia), Newsweek Group and Ms Deepshikha Sikarwar, Senior Editor, The Economic Times. The panel deliberated on the topic “Changing Landscapes of Newsrooms”. The panel contemplated how the rigidity and hierarchy in newsrooms have been set aside with the advent of digital and social media. They also reflected on the problems brought about this sudden rise of these platforms.
After a very successful first day, Netritva continued to its second and final day in IIM Bodh Gaya. The day began with a keynote address by Mr Harsh Kumar, Executive Director, IBM. The topic of his speech was “The Cognitive Enterprise – Perspectives of the Industry”. The main theme of his enlightening talk revolved around how regular organizations are absorbing innovation in present times. According to him, “Disruptive environmental forces are driving seismic shifts within the Industry”. He spoke of how organizations fail to adapt to rapid technological development and disappear. He highlighted several points for organizations to implement to survive and thrive in this world of disruptive development. He also shared some guidelines for the students to follow for succeeding in Industry 4.0.
The next in the programme was the third and final panel discussion of Netritva 2019. The esteemed panellists were Mr Rakesh Singhania, Chief Finance Officer, Wells Fargo India, Ms Shrabani Basu, Vice President, Human Resources, Reliance Industries Ltd., Mr Sanjay Chandel, Vice President and Head, Human Resources, Sterling India, and Mr Satyajit Mohanty, Chief Human Resources Officer, Crompton Greaves. The moderator for the panel was Mr Rajeev Bhadauria, Managing Partner, Ebullient. The discussions in the panel revolved around the topic “Biggest Challenges faced by Leaders of Modern India”. Mr Bhadauria opened the discussion by distinguishing a leader from a manager. In his words, a manager does things systematically, while a leader takes a systemic approach to any work. He also defined modernity as an aspect of the state of a person’s mind. He presented two aspects of modernity – a scientific attitude, and a humanistic perspective. Ms Shrabani Basu drew instances from her long and illustrious career in Human Resources to identify career derailment as the biggest challenge for leadership. She suggested that jobs should be augmented with the ability to cope with challenges to overcome this problem. Mr Sanjay Chandel emphasized on the importance of learning for effective and efficient leadership. His advice to the students was that learning cannot stop, no matter what the station or occasion and a learning organization are essential for growth. Mr Rakesh Singhania pointed out that leadership cannot be effective without trust from the employees. Only when employees trust the leader can the organization reach new heights. Mr Satyajit Mohanty provided two suggestions for organizations to help create learning organizations. First, the organization must set goals which make people learn, and second, the organization must create an environment where learning is not hindered for people working in it. Once the panel opened for questions, the guests, and the students and teachers of IIM Bodh Gaya actively participated in the discussion with the panellists. The students gained many insights regarding leadership and its challenges from the discussion.
The end of the panel marked the conclusion of Netritva, the Leadership Summit of IIM Bodh Gaya. The Director of the Institute, Dr Vinita Sahay delivered the vote of thanks and felicitated the guests with a memento. In her speech, she praised the efforts of the volunteers for the event for managing it successfully and commended the Media & PR Cell and Placement Committee, IIM Bodh Gaya for successfully organizing the event.

Buddhist circuit train between India and Nepal to run between October 19-26

Source: in.news.yahoo.com

New Delhi [India], Oct 18 (ANI): The Indian Railways will run its first Buddhist Circuit train between India and Nepal from October 19 to October 26.

The train journey will cover sites significant to Gautam Buddha’s life in both India and Nepal.

According to the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the Buddhist circuit train will cover important Buddhist destinations such as: Lumbini – the birthplace of Buddha, Bodhgaya – the place of enlightenment, Sarnath – the place of Buddha’s first sermon and Kushinagar – the place of Buddha’s Nirvana.

The train will originate and terminate at Safdarjung railway station in New Delhi.

The IRCTC is offering many attractive packages for tourists desiring to undertake the Buddhist Circuit tour. An AC first class package will cost Rs 1,23,900 per couple, while an AC two-tier package will cost Rs 1,01,430.

The packages also cover road transport in AC deluxe coaches, various locations and monuments visits, entrance fees, tourists accommodation during the visit, meals, services of tour managers and guides and travel insurance.

The new rake consists of four 1st AC coaches with as many as 96 seats, two 2nd AC coaches having 60 seats, two exclusive dining cars with a capacity of 64 guests in each and one pantry car for passengers.

The train will be covered with thematic vinyl wrap promoting national tourism.

The train will be equipped with personal digital lockers, foot massagers, shower, cubicles, separate sitting area with single-seated sofas, CCTV cameras, smoke detection alarm system for better safety.

There will be an onboard hygienic kitchen car and dining car facility. Passengers can choose from an assortment of fresh hot meals, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Packaged drinking water, tea and coffee will be available at all times.

While there will be no concession tickets for the train, children below five years of age have been exempted from the fare. Fifty per cent of the fare will be charged for children aged between five years to 12 years. (ANI)

Railways’ Buddhist Circuit train covering sites in India, Nepal to run from October 19-26

Source: thehindu.com

The Railways will run its first Buddhist Circuit train from this Saturday to October 26 covering sites related to Gautam Buddha in India and Nepal.

IRCTC will run the train covering destinations like Lumbini, where Buddha was born; Bodhgaya, where he gained enlightenment; Sarnath, where he gave his first sermon; and Kushinagar, where he attained nirvana, the Railways said in a statement.

“The significance of these destinations can be seen in the Mahaparinirvana sutra, wherein the Lord Buddha tells his followers that they can attain merit and a noble rebirth by going on pilgrimage to these places,” the statement said.

The package will cost Indians ₹1,23,900 per couple in AC first class and ₹1,01,430 per couple for AC two tier.

It will include road transport by AC deluxe coaches for the Nepal tour, visits to monuments and locations, accommodation, meals, services of tour manager, guides, entrance fees and travel insurance.

However, passengers will have to pay their visa fee for the Nepal leg of the journey and any other expenditure like laundry and other services.

The train will have four first AC coaches with 96 seats, two second AC coaches with 60 seats, two exclusive dining cars with a capacity of 64 guest in each and a pantry car.

It will be covered with unique vinyl wrap promoting Incredible India and is also equipped with personal digital lockers, cubicles shower, foot massagers, separate sitting area with single seated sofas.

Private security guards will be deployed in each coach, the railways said.

JMB operative arrested in Chennai, more inroads into Burdhwan, Bodhgaya blast cases

Source: oneindia.com

Chennai, Sep 10: A terrorist suspected to be associated with the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh has been arrested from Chennai.

The arrest comes in the wake of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) making several arrests from in connection with the Bodhgaya and Burdwan blasts case from South India.

The arrest was made on the basis of the investigation of Habibur Rehman, a close aide of Jahidul Islam arrested by the NIA last year from Ramanagara near Bengaluru. The sleuths of the NIA are currently questioning Rehman and during the interrogation, it came to light that he had travelled to several places across the country.

He told the NIA during interrogation that he had travelled to Bengal, Bengaluru, Kerala and Chennai. During the interrogation of Islam to the NIA had learnt that he had travelled to several places across the country and the agency suspects that it was to strengthen the activities of the Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

Rehman according to the NIA landed in Bengaluru in 2015. He then took up a job with a contractor in K R Puram. However, following an NIA crackdown which led to arrests in Maharashtra, he moved out of Bengaluru. The case of Islam too is similar. He was residing in Bengaluru and following the crackdown, he moved to Ramanagara, the NIA has learnt.

NIA officials tell OneIndia that these persons had a free run all these years. They would mingle with the local population and take shelter. They were so convincing that their contractor for whom they worked had no idea about their activities. The NIA is now trying to ascertain, where these persons had transported the bombs that they had prepared. It may be recalled that hours after Habibur’s arrest, two bombs were found in a drain at Ramanagara.

Rehman was a close associate of senior JMB leader Jahidul Islam alias Kausar. He was also associated with other JMB leaders like Rahamatullah and Moulana Yusuf. He was an active member of JMB, Bolpur Module in West Bengal. He had attended a number of training camps conducted by JMB.

India to help Mongolia mitigate impact of smog

Source: dnaindia.com

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga, who met on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, discussed was on how India can help mitigate the impact of smog in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar.

The foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, “President of Mongolia spoke of the success India is having in mitigating the pollution due to stubble burning of wheat in the winter months”

According to Indian Council of Agricultural Research, there have been 41% decline in burning of crop stubble in 2018 as compared to 2016 in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCR region due to central government measures.

President Battulga will be visiting India later this month and will be touring Delhi, Bodh Gaya and Bengaluru. India is helping the landlocked country build an oil refinery through a line of credit announced during PM Modi’s visit to the country. In 2015, PM Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country.

Mongolia, which is landlocked between Russia and China considers India as its “third neighbour” with which it has a spiritual connection.

IIM Bodh Gaya Conclave: Flexi timings and virtual workplaces crucial to keep Generation Z happy

Source: news.careers360.com

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 13: Human Resource experts from across the country came together at the HR conclave held at IIM Bodh Gaya to discuss innovative concepts like flexi timings, virtual workplaces and their importance in retaining the future workforce.

The two-day event, named Gyanodya 2.0, held panel discussions involving HR Heads from reputed firms like Admiral Group, Tata Consultancy Service, Bar Code India, etc., on coping with the changing trends in the workplace.

Experts discussed the importance of innovations in the office environment considering the imminent presence of the internet-savvy Generation Z (born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s) in the future workforce. The conclave had three panel discussions on the topics: flexible timings and virtual workplaces, challenges in HR management, and the role of human resource in gaining competitive advantage.

Flexi timings are flexible working hours which require the workers to be working as usual during the ‘core hours’ while the rest of the hours are flexible for the employee. Similarly, virtual workplaces allow the employees to work from home through a network of several workplaces connected through the internet.

The expert also highlighted the greatest challenges of HR, which include the absence of any binding qualification requirement for the profession, the challenge of contract labour, and that of retaining talent. Highlighting the human aspect of HR, the importance of having face-to-face interactions for workplace productivity was stressed on during the conclave.

The conclave was attended by dignitaries such as Dr. Vinita Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya; Anurag Chandra, Head HR, Admiral Group; Surabhi Sanchita, Head-HR, Bar Code India Ltd.; Amitava Sinha, VP-HR, Business Standard Pvt Ltd, among others.

IIM Bodhgaya All Set To Get New, Green Campus Building

Souece: sentinelassam.com

Patna: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya in Bihar is all set to get a new look by 2020. The new IIM campus, located in the sacred and historic and city of Bodhgaya, will be spread over 73 acres. The concept for the campus takes inspiration from Buddhist ideologies, evolving into a design which promotes a search for progression in the field of management studies, an official said on Saturday.

Established in 2015, IIM Bodhgaya is the 16th such institute in the country. One of India’s leading architectural firms, C.P. Kukreja Architects have been selected through a national competition to design it. Speaking on the execution of this first-of-its-kind project, the C.P. Kukreja Architects Managing Principal Dikshu C. Kukreja said: “It is our endeavour to create a 21st century world class campus set in a city with deep-rooted historical significance.” The grandness in the campus architecture is translated through different design elements. Entering the campus, one is greeted with the Buddhist ‘toranas’ (ornamental gateways), the abstract demeanours of which are imposing and yet rooted to the ground. (IANS)

Leh accords grand reception to ‘Pad Yatra for World Peace’

Source: statetimes.in

TSEWANG RIGZIN
LEH: A number of religious and political organisations of Leh accorded a grand reception to Pad Yatra at Shey, as around 200 monks, nuns and laypersons from Thailand reached Leh after a strenuous month-long ‘Pad Yatra (peace march) for World Peace’ from Bodhgaya via Dharamsala to Ladakh on foot.

The delegates of Pad Yatra started their journey from Bodhgaya last month after offering prayers at sacred Mahabodhi temple. After having an audience with Dalai Lama in Dharamsala and seeking his blessings on 25th May, the Sangha members embarked on a month-long spiritual journey on foot towards Ladakh, crossing the high Himalayan terrain. The yatra was led by lord Abbot of Royal Thai Temple, Singburi province in Thailand, Phrateppariyattisuthi Thongsuk and was organised in collaboration with Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Leh. This was the 4th consecutive year of historic Dhamma Pad Yatra.

A number of leaders from different communities also took part in concluding part of Pad Yatra, for about 10 Km from Shey village to Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) Choglamsar, and prayed for world peace. President Ladakh Gonpa Association, Gelong Shatup Chamba; Skyabje Tokdan Rinpoche, Dy Chairman LAHDC Leh, President Municipal Committee Leh Dr Isehy Namgyal, Vice President Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) P T Kunzang, LBA Youth President Konchok Stag, LBA Women Wing President Rinchen Lamo, President Anjuman-Moin-Ul Islam Dr Abdul Qayom, President Anjuman Immamia Ashraf Ali Barcha, President Christian Association Dechen Chamgha, President District Congress Committee Tsering Namgyal, President Bar Association Leh Mohd Shafi Lasu, President All Ladakh Tour Operators Association Tsetan Angchok, Chief Patron Sindhu Darshan Yatra Samiti, Sr. RSS Pracharak Indresh Kumar and a number of people received the delegation of monks, nuns and laypersons on their arrival in Leh and also took part in the last leg of peace march.

Congratulating the delegates for a successful month-long Yatra for World Peace, founder-President MIMC, Bhikkhu Sanghasena expressed gratitude to all leaders from different communities of Leh for extending a warm welcome to the delegates from Thailand.

The Pad Yatra concluded at CIBS with inauguration of a three-day International Conference on ‘World Peace’, ‘150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’, and ‘Preservation of Cultural Heritage of Himalayas’ in Acharya Nagarjuna Auditorium of CIBS. The conference is being organised by MIMC in collaboration with Save the Himalayas Foundation, New Delhi; Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda; Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh and Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Leh.

Bodh Gaya’s Mahabodhi Temple to Receive New Hi-tech Illumination System

Source: buddhistdoor.net

The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world, will soon by illuminated by a state-of-the art LED lighting system by the end of this year, with funding for the extraordinary initiative offered by Siddhartha’s Intent India with support from Khyentse Foundation and Vana Foundation. The new lighting system is designed to illuminate every part of the temple in accordance with the highest safety and quality standards to ensure a long-lasting and sustainable solution.

The project, called “Lighting the Mahabodhi,” is one of the largest and most ambitious light-offering initiatives in Buddhist history. According to the Bhutanese newspaper Kuensel, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, founder of Khyentse Foundation, who initiated the lighting project, came up with the idea in 2015, and in 2017 the proposal was approved by the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee and the Gaya District Magistrate. The total cost of project is around US$1.4 million, with more than 30 per cent of the budget allocated since the project was launched.

“If there is one thing in the world that resembles our minds, it is light,” said Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. “As Buddhists in the Rime tradition, our aim is to illuminate our minds free from judgment, prejudice, or pride. And so, it is to symbolize that realization and to appreciate the Buddha’s infinite compassion and skillful means in guiding us toward it, that we are now offering light at the very place of the Buddha’s enlightenment.” (Kuensel)

The Mahabodhi Temple, one of the most spiritual destinations for Buddhists pilgrims, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site marking the place where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Beside the temple, there are seven other sacred sites in Bodh Gaya, including the descendent of the original Bodhi tree.

“The atmosphere created by the Mahabodhi Temple is so potent it’s as if you fall into a trance,” explained Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. “Here you’ll find the vajra seat (vajra asana, also known as the Diamond Seat) where, after many years of searching for the truth and six excruciating years of penance by the banks of the Niranjana River, Siddhartha finally discovered the Middle Path and achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. (Khyentse Foundation)

“Centuries have passed since the Buddha attained enlightenment at this spot, and the temple has weathered many eras of both resplendence and shocking neglect. In this present era, the temple has been upgraded, is well tended to, and in comparatively excellent shape,” said the president of Siddhartha’s Intent India, Prashant Varma, in a press release on 31 May. “Lighting the Mahabodhi is building upon this support to update the lighting in a way that will last for generations to come. (Khyentse Foundation)

B-Lit, a lighting design company from Bangkok, Thailand, is providing the design offering free of charge as an offering of devotion. The overall lighting system will include high-end LED technology, as well as software to control and automate the myriad of high-efficiency, low-heat LED bulbs and fixtures.

According to the Khyentse Foundation, the lighting project will incorporate: 

Automated lights that are durable, energy efficient, and ecologically friendly, with minimal light pollution.
• Top technical quality lighting with systematised controls.
 Synchronized with the lunar cycles, and adaptable to the many special rituals and needs of the Mahabodhi Temple.
 Light fittings and fixtures able to withstand changing seasonal and weather conditions.
 Safe and easy operation and maintenance.

“We hope to have part of phase one—the core of the temple lighting—ready by the end of this year,” noted Varma. “We shall then steadily work toward completing all other areas of the temple complex, other than the Sarovar Lake and the new Meditation Park, by the end of 2020.” (Kuensel)