Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay Meditates Under Bodhi Tree at Mahabodhi Temple
Gaya/Rajgir: The Royal Bhutan Buddhist Temple at Rajgir, Bihar, was inaugurated today in a grand ceremony steeped in Buddhist rituals and Bhutanese tradition. Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, and senior representatives of both nations jointly unveiled the temple.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Tobgay said the temple would serve as a “spiritual bridge” deepening the centuries-old cultural and religious ties between India and Bhutan. Rajgir, revered as the land of Lord Buddha’s penance, now holds a new landmark of Buddhist heritage.
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The Royal Bhutan Temple at Rajgir, Bihar, was consecrated by His Holiness The Je Khenpo, Chief Abbot of Bhutan, in the presence of PM @tsheringtobgay of Bhutan.
Minister of Minority Affairs & Parliamentary… pic.twitter.com/qonMYeJzWf
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Later in the day, the Bhutanese Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife and an official delegation, offered prayers at the sacred Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya. District Magistrate Sashank Subhankar, who chairs the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), along with senior officials, monks, and committee members, welcomed the dignitary.
Dr. Mahashweta Maharathi, BTMC Secretary, briefed Tobgay on the temple’s rich history as the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The delegation participated in a special mantra-chanting ceremony, meditated under the Bodhi Tree, and offered prayers at the upper shrine.
As a token of reverence, Tobgay was presented with a replica of the Mahabodhi Temple, a sacred Bodhi leaf, and BTMC publications. Expressing gratitude, he said he felt “deeply blessed to connect with such a revered spiritual heritage site.”
The visit underscored Bhutan’s enduring spiritual bond with India while reaffirming Bodhgaya’s place as a timeless global center of Buddhist faith and culture.
