2003 Stories (124 items)

[note: sorry links not active, scroll down to find story]

Zen and the art of holidaying
PM road project chief shot
BUDDH GAYA AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS
Buddha Gayá Guide for 1881
Bhutan's Royal Family Arrives in Bodhgaya
Japanese scientists to study protection of sacred tree
Tourist Industry gets new income from Air Services Starting up
Lumbini On Trial: The Untold Story
4554 Hits on Bodhgaya news in October 2003
Due to Technical Fault Indian Airlines Flight to Calcutta not able to board
Display Includes Beads Said to be Formed When a Buddhist Master Is Cremate
Sahara flies to Colombo; makes history
Buddha tees off yen tourism drive from the greens
Bihar govt to sue Reliance Infocomm
Jois opens meditation centre
Eight Injured Including one Pilgrim in various Incidents
Criminals assault three Japanese monks
Bangkok Flight Does not arrive at Gaya Due to Lack of Passengers
Firing and Stone Throwing between Two Parties
Pindadan offered in the courtyard of Buddha the Ninth Avatar of Vishnu
Pitripaksha Mela overshadowed by Maha Kumbha Mela
Bodhgayanews hits around 146 pages a day
Extremists Seize Vinobha Bhave's Ashram
Absconding Master Crimminal Caught
Mother Goddess's Golden Eyes Stolen
Three Arrested with Buddha Image
Surendra Goes Home On an Elephant
India to put a Space Craft on the Moon by 2008
Scheme to put 'Dustbins' on platforms
Accused Arrested in Dowry Murder
American tourist robbed in Bodh Gaya
Policeman burnt to Death in Gaya, two killed, eight injured including seven soldiers.
Work on Revision of Electoral Register Begins in Bodhgaya Block
Restoration Work on Mahabodhi Temple Halted for a fortnight
I am like a true disciple of Buddha: Kalam
President comes as a pilgrim to Bodhgaya
Like a Curfew at the scene of Peace
Police Arrive in Bodhgaya to investigate abduction
Motorcycle Passenger Killed in Vehicle Accident
Money Extorted from Small Shopkeepers on the pretense of contracting
President Kalam visits Bodhgaya
President to sit on ground and talk
Bodhgaya Busy In Preparation for Welcoming His Excellency the President
Polluted Water Supply in Bodhgaya Block
Change in Presidents Program in Bodhgaya
Japanese Tourist Cheated out of 1.27 Lakh
Pilgrims from West Bengal Robbed
PM to help retain Mahabodhi temple's heritage status
School Holiday Delayed for Presidential Visit
Mahabodhi Temple Resounds to the Sound of "Buddham Sharanam Gacchami"
Buddha's bones to go on public display
Newly Wed Murdered and Body Burnt
Bihar cities fight over Buddha’s ashes
Budget of 1.27 Crores passed for Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya sacred bodhi tree recovering from virus attack
Committee formed to lower curtain on dispute
Killer pneumonia threat looms over Bihar town
Fear that SARS may enter India via Gaya Airport
Ten Thousand Fedayeen to go from Gaya to Iraq: Shakeel
Bodhgaya's sacred Mahabodhi in danger
Sacred Buddhist tree nears death
World’s highest Buddha statue project in Kushi Nagar starts
BodhgayaNews One Year Old Today
Site of where Buddha spent his time after his enlightenment just a memory
Travelers Bothered by Encroachments and Dirt in Station Compound
Rail and Aviation Ministers Visit Mahabodhi Temple, call for train from Gaya to Chennai
Police Recover Stolen Statues
Small Shops being built in front of Vishnupad Temple
Central Tourism Minister Will Take part in a High Level Meeting in Bodhgaya Today
Railway Manager Promises New Gifts to Buddhists
Search for Statue Thieves helped by Bowl
Fight in Minority Family, Six named
Several Passengers Condition Worsens after eating Cockroach Contaminated Food on Purushottom Express
Rail Transport Suspended on Gaya-Kiul Section after Navada Massacre
BJP Protests at Maitreya Statue Project in UP
Two Statues stolen from Temple
Union Protests at Dismisal of Workers
One Killed, two Injured, in shooting between MCC and Ranvir Sena
New DSP of Homeguards takes office
Police Recover Woman's body buried in Ground
MCC Kill two Abductees and Cut of Hands of Two
Political Parties support Indefinate Strike in favour of Prisoners' rights
One Injured in Road Accident
Ten members, incuding a woman, of an Interstate Con Gang arrested
Forty Million Rupees exchanged at Gaya Airport
One Arrested Over Ramsheela Case
Student Council Criticises Arrest of Underage Student
Railway Enquiry Office Besieged By Complaints
Indian monks oppose Bharat Ratna to Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama Calls For Peace With China at Buddhist Ceremony
Dalai Lama closes Buddhist festival with appeal for peace
Tibetan Buddhist festival concludes peacefully in India despite threats
Kalachakra Puja ends with a Long Life Prayer His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrives at Sarnath
Four foreigners held in Bodhgaya
Poor facilities, pickpockets mar Buddhist meet
Dharma versus Politics
Record 200,000 people attend Buddhist festival in India
War on Iraq will disturb world peace: Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama against 'thrusting war' on Iraq
Dalai Lama calls for peaceful solution in Iraq
War on Iraq will disturb world peace: Dalai Lama
No rule of law in China: Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama uses Buddhist festival to promote Tibetan autonomy
Kalchakra puja begins in Bodh Gaya
Dalai Lama calls for rejection of materialism at Buddhist gathering in eastern India
World peace possible through ahimsa: Dalai Lama
Gaya: Fasting neo-Buddhists in custody
China’s changing, there’s hope for Tibetans: Dalai
Dalai Lama opens Buddhist festival of thousands in India
Kalachakra Puja begins with a message for world peace
Preliminary teachings begins tomorrow
Hefty fee for seeing Buddha's ashes draws flak
Buddhist monks threaten immolation
Tibetans to expose 'real face' of China during Kalchakra
Buddhist Festival All Set to Open in Bodh Gaya on Sunday
Tibetans to propagate cause at Kalchakra festival
Dalai Lama visits Buddhist monastries of foreign countries
Heavy police deployment made for Kalchakra
Neo-Buddhists begin indefinite fast against the Dalai Lama
Over 5000 Buddhists from Sikkim attend Kalachakra ceremony
One Tibetan Arrested Attempting to Attack the Karmapa, Crowds of Foreign and National Devotees flock to puja
Two 'spies' held before Dalai Lama visit
Preparation for the Kalachakra Pooja nears Completion
Security concerns over Dalai Lama visit to Bihar

Zen and the art of holidaying
Published : November 29, 2003
(Business-Standard)
Funny how one can find a place as peaceful as this right in the middle of chaotic Bihar.
Bodhgaya is, naturally, full of bodhi trees, its avenues are shady and the snout of the Mahabodhi temple rises awe-inspiringly amidst the green canopy.
Serenity apart, the little town is perhaps the most popular of all the holy sites linked to Buddhism and is much more of a working Buddhist centre than an archaeological site. full story

PM road project chief shot
(Telegraph India)
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Patna, Nov. 27: The project manager who had directly written to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee about irregularities in the National Highways Authority of India golden quadrilateral project was shot this morning at Gaya by unidentified persons. Satyendar Dubey, on his way back from Varanasi, was going from the railway station to his A.P. Colony residence when he was killed near the circuit house. He was in his mid thirties.
...
The golden quadrilateral project aims to link Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. The project, one of the largest in the world with an overall length of 14,162 km, also aims to create north-south and east-west corridors — connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Silchar to Saurashtra....full story

BUDDH GAYA AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS
[From: J. C. Oman, Mystics, Ascetics and Saints of India, London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1905.] Melbourne, 26 November. A fascinating account of a visit to Bodhgaya undertaken soon after the restoration of the temple in the 1880s.
"If it were possible to ascertain, by any means, what particular spot on earth is the most sacred in the opinion of mankind, there is reason to think that the majority of votes would be given in favour of Buddh Gaya, which is held in high veneration by both Buddhists and Hindus. Such a spot is certainly worth a visit. Leaving the busy town of Bankipore one afternoon in April, I travelled some fifty-seven miles to Gaya, by the branch railway, over a level uninteresting looking country, unredeemed in its drear monotony except by picturesque groups of slender palm..." more

Buddha Gayá Guide for 1881
Melbourne, 26 November. Read from the guide to Bodhgaya for 1881 by Edward Eastwick published by John Murray in London in the guide to the Presidency of Bengal.
Buddha Gayá.—The distance of this place from Gayá is 7 m. For the first 5 m. the road is good, but unshaded by trees. The traveller will pass, on his right, the prison of Gayá, After 5m. he will turn tothe left, and go for 2 m. along a country road, where the many ruts and inequalities oblige carriage-horses to walk. The temple of Buddha Gayá is built in a hollow, which diminishes its apparent height. It is also shut in by small houses. more

Bhutan's Royal Family Arrives in Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya, 24 November (Dainik Jagran). Late on Sunday night a high level delegation including the Bhutanese Prince and his wife and 20 people arrived in Bodhgaya as royal guests.
Prince "Dering Bang Chu" along with a the high level delegation first of all went to have darshan of the temple and perform puja and worship. In the morning after resting over night Prince Chu after visiting various temples went again to the Mahabodhi Temple and performed puja. After that he set off via road to Rajgir and Nalanda. The prince was greeted in the temple by the member [of the legislative assembly?] Dr Ramrup Singh who showed him the temple.

Japanese scientists to study protection of sacred tree
By Imran Khan, Patna, Nov 24 (NewKerala.com)
The Mahabodhi Temple is taking the help of Japanese scientists to look for ways to rescue the holy tree at Buddhism's birthplace from certain death.
The tree in Bodh Gaya, 110 km from here, which grew from the original banyan tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment 2,500 years ago, is situated behind the Mahabodhi Temple, which Unesco declared a world heritage site in June.
"A team of two Japanese botanists visited Bodh Gaya this week and collected extracts from the Mahabodhi banyan tree, its leaves and soil to study in their laboratory in Japan," said temple committee secretary Kali Charan Yadav.
The team would then suggest measures to protect the holy tree, said to be nearly 110 years old, near the Mahabodhi Temple.
After the threat to the holy tree was reported in Japanese media, Japanese organisations came forward to help protect the holy tree. full story

Tourist Industry gets new income from Air Services Starting up
Bodhgaya, 23 November, (Dainik Jagran). A new source of income has opened up for the tourist business with the starting up of air services from various countries in view of hte start of the tourist season to the world famous pilgrimage site of Bodhgaya. In particular it has meant an increase for the hotel business. Several offices have also opened in hotels for the various charter and scheduled airlines landing at the airport. It is due to this also that various new hotels are being built.
The tourist season in Bodhgaya begins this month. Tourists have also started arriving in fair quantities too. The senior manager of the Hotel Lotus Nikko Ajay Bharti believes that year 2003 will be a good tourist season. He said that in October and November the hotel business has been good. However between December 15th to January 15th due to Christmas there are not too many crowds. However, there are good bookings of foreign tourists up to March. Whilst 19 charter flights under the supervision of Phuket Airlines are being organised by Lotus Trance [trans?] Travels. Mahamaya hotels owner Sudama Kumar and manager Sanand Kumar believe that this season is begining slowly. But, tourist bookings are good from next month. For years there is going to be considerable profit from the landing of international planes at the Gaya airport. Due to this hotel business is being developed by the opening of an Indian Airlines office in the Hotel Royal Residency, Royal Bhutan's Duk Air in the hotel Darbar, Thailand's charter airline Phuket Air in the Nikko hotel and Sri Lanka Air line's office in a [unnamed] hotel, etc.

Lumbini On Trial: The Untold Story
UK, 21 November, Mr T.A.Phelps. There are compelling reasons for believing that the present site of Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace, may not be the real Lumbini site at all, but the result of an astonishing deception, begun in 1896, and unwittingly fostered ever since. It is an extraordinary tale, now told for the first time. read the full story

4554 Hits on Bodhgaya news in October 2003
Melbourne. (20 November 2003). Thanks for visiting Bodhgaya news. Currently there are about 110 requests a day for pages on the site so I hope that you find something on the site to interest you. Also remember that the Find function on the left helps you locate stories on the site amongst the three hundred plus files now on the site.

Due to Technical Fault Indian Airlines Flight to Calcutta not able to board Gaya, 18th November (Dainik Jagran).
The international flight from Bodhgaya to Thailand on Tuesday was not able to board passengers for the flight to Calcutta. All the 81 passengers were travelling to Calcutta but were put up in two hotels in Bodhgaya instead.
The flight arrived from Thailand with 35 passengers who all got off and was to board 81 passengers to go to Calcutta, of whom ten were 'Depoti' [Deportees?]. Everybody's luggage was sealed away in a customs warehouse and they were put up at hotels. full story on Dainik Jagran

Display Includes Beads Said to be Formed When a Buddhist Master Is Cremated
By BILL BROADWAY (15 November)
The Washington Post (The Ledger.com) WASHINGTON, D.C.
Those who will have the rare opportunity this fall to view remains of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, founder 2,500 years ago of one of the world's great religions, might be in for a surprise.
Unlike most religious relics, typically pieces of saints' bones, the remains of great Buddhist teachers include tiny pearllike objects known as ringsel. These crystalline beads are said to be formed when a Buddhist master is cremated and to settle into the shape of a heart, conch, flower or other object.
....
The Heart Shrine Relics are so named because they will be placed permanently in the heart area of a 500-foot statue to be constructed in Kushinagar, a town in northern India where Shakyamuni Buddha died. The massive bronze statue will represent the Maitreya, or "loving kindness," Buddha, an enlightened being of the future who Buddhists believe will bring world peace. Full story on Fort Worth Ledger website

Sahara flies to Colombo; makes history
Abhijeet Kulkarni in Colombo | November 14, 2003 19:14 IST
(Rediff.com)
Private carrier Air Sahara became the country's first private airlines to cross the Indian Shores when its maiden flight landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo on Friday.
The chartered non-revenue flight, S2 501, which embarked on its first ever sojourn from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, was accorded a warm welcome by the Sri Lankan government.
...
"A major chunk of Sri Lankan visitors to India are religious tourists who visit Buddhist worship centres and we plan to exploit that potential by providing connecting services to places like Sarnath (Varanasi), Bodhgaya (Patna) and Kushinagar (Gorakhpur)." [full story on Rediff.com]

Buddha tees off yen tourism drive from the greens
A STAFF REPORTER, 8 November, (The Telegraph). Hounded by healthcare horrors and rattled by the rally row, it is time for the chief minister to take a swing — on the golfing greens. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has teed off a fresh initiative to woo international tourists to this part of the world — for its ecology, for its heritage and for its fairways.
....
“Look how Delhi has tied up tourism with the game by laying out three designer golf courses (DLF Golf & Country Club, Golden Greens and Classic Golf Resorts) along the drive to Jaipur,” pointed out Brandon De Souza, president, Tiger Sports Marketing (TSM), which drives the Indian Tour. TSM had recently suggested to the government that Calcutta be linked to Patna and Bodh Gaya through an integrated golf-tourism blueprint to cash in on the Buddhism connection. “If the state is keen to develop allied areas of interest in its backyard, like heritage spots and eco-tourism parks, the whole picture could change real quick,” clarifies the golf consultant. full story on the Telegraph.com

Bihar govt to sue Reliance Infocomm
Thursday, 06 November , 2003, 13:57 (Sify.com). Patna: After trying to cast off its IT-unfriendly image by resolving to gift laptops to 318 legislators, the Bihar government has now trained its guns on Reliance Infocomm. Tourism Minister Ashok Kumar Singh said on Wednesday that Reliance used information technology to portray a negative picture of the state as a tourist destination on its website, R-World.
The minister was reacting to reports that the company had presented an unflattering image of the state's four major tourist spots - Gaya, Bodh Gaya, Patna and Rajgir - on the travel tips option on Reliance India Mobile (RIM) declaring them unsafe.
On Gaya, the RIM asked its users to be alert as incidents of theft and robbery was common and advised them not to wear expensive jewellery. About Bodh Gaya it said since power cuts were frequent, tourists should carry a torch and not travel after sunset, the minister said.
...
"Not a single tourist coming to Bihar has been a victim of crime and we supply even toothbrushes at hotels run by tourism department," the minister said adding the state earned around Rs 36 crore from tourism sector in 2002. Full story on Sify.com

Jois opens meditation centre
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2003 01:24:12 AM ]. GAYA: (Times of India).Governor M Rama Jois on Saturday inaugurated a meditation centre at Bodh Gaya. Built at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, the meditation centre is designed to offer a congenial place of uninterrupted meditation to the large number of tourists and pilgrims visiting Bodh Gaya in their quest for the peace of mind. full story at TOI

Eight Injured Including one Pilgrim in various Incidents
Bodhgaya, October 20, (Dainik Jagran). In various incidents in Bodhgaya on Monday eight people were injured including one pilgrim. The injured are being treated in Gaya private hospital.
Due to a Tempo going out of control and overturning near the Chinese Temple six Bengali pilgrims were injured. All the pilgrims were touring Bodhgaya in a Tempo. A female passenger Gita Mitro was sent for special treatment to a private clinic in Gaya and the other passengers were treated in Bodhgaya. After the incident the driver of the Tempo was able to successfully escape with his Tempo.
The second incident happened near the Tibetan temple were the child of a pilgrim from Orissa was hit by a scooter. In another incident a worker at the High school in the compound of Magadh university was driving a scooter which was hit by a Maruti car. He is being treated in Gaya.

Criminals assault three Japanese monks
PRANAVA K CHAUDHARY (Times of India)
[ MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2003 03:05:25 AM ]
PATNA: More than a dozen armed miscreants brutally assaulted three Japanese monks at Hachka village on Grand Trunk Road under the Gorhar police station in Hazaribag district in Jharkhand on Saturday night. They were returning to Kolkata after participating in the 34th anniversary function of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa at Rajgir on October 25. The miscreants also looted all their belongings, including cash and passport. [Full story on the Times of India website

[not a lot of Bodhgaya news recently it seems]

Bangkok Flight Does not arrive at Gaya Due to Lack of Passengers
Bodhgaya, 1 October (Dainik Jagran). Due to lack of passengers the Indian Airlines flight AC-729 did not come to Gaya from Bangkok on Tuesday. It is also known that Saturday's AC-730 flight from Bangkok to Gaya could not land at Gaya due to lack of night landing facilities. Supan Mukherjee, Indian Airlines official said that on 25th September only seven reservations were made. Arrangements were made to send these passengers to Calcutta to catch the flight. He said that it was known that this flight would be cancelled but next Saturday's flight would be on schedule.

Firing and Stone Throwing between Two Parties
Gaya, 29 September 2003 (Dainik Jagran). Firing and stone throwing occurred on Monday morning at Kendui on the Gaya to Bodhgaya road. Due to which traffic was held up for about an hour.
A dispute between the Dalit students of the Kendui Medical precinct and another community took a violent form. Both sides started to throw stones and whilst this was happening country made pistols were fired from both sides. The incident happened between eight and nine in the morning. Several people were injured in the stone throwing. The in charge of the medical precinct Mr Shiv Kumar Singh went to the site and took the situation under control. There is no news of anybody being arrested over this matter.

Pindadan offered in the courtyard of Buddha the Ninth Avatar of Vishnu
Gaya, 16 September, (Dainik Jagran). According to Hindu beliefs Lord Buddha is known as the ninth Avatar of Vishnu. Due to this the offering of pindadan is going on in the courtyard of the international heritage site at Bodhgaya of the Mahabodhi temple. Thousands each day are making offerings inthe temple compound and at the Muchalinda tank. more

Pitripaksha Mela overshadowed by Maha Kumbha Mela
Gaya, 15 September (Dainik Jagran). Five days have passed in the Pitripaksha Mela happening in the Northern Indian cultural centre of Gaya. The speed of pilgrims arriving in those five days has been fairly slow. It is believed that the reason for this is the Maha Kumbha Mela which is reaching its completion in Nasik in Maharashtra. The Gayapala Priestly community believes that this is the reason for the lack of pilgrims. Full story

Bodhgayanews hits around 146 pages a day more

Extremists Seize Vinobha Bhave's Ashram
Bankebazar, 8 September (Dainik Jagran). Vinobha Bhave's Savodaya Ashram called Latua in Bankebazar block is on the verge of destruction as it has been seized by extremists from the notorious MCCI organisation.
It is notable that eight km west of the block office in Bankebazar nestled in the hills is the village of Latua where the saint Vinobha Bhave came and established an Ashram. Mr Bhave managed to get around a thousand acres of land in this area redistributed to landless labourers. Along with this he got foreign aid in teaching the locals here about new agricultural techniques. Some years ago the foreigners left and the management of the Ashram was left in the hands of the head of the Bhudan sacrifice committee Mr Divakar. For some years he ran it as a charitable school. It is said that after his departure it has fallen into the hands of the MCCI. The Ashram has about 50 acres of agricultural land and five acres of Guava orchards. These fruits are now being sold by the MCCI and being looked after by the local committee of revolutionary farmers.

Absconding Master Crimminal Caught
Bodhgaya, 7 September (Dainik Jagran). Absconding and cunning crimminal wanted for Bodhgaya station case123/02 was caught on Saturday and sent to jail. The Police Station in-charge Devanda Mishra said that the crimminal was a resident of Pariaya village. He was concerned in several cases registered in the Bodhgaya police station.

Mother Goddess's Golden Eyes Stolen
Bodhgaya, 2 September (Dainik Jagran). Unknown thieves stole the golden eyes out of the image of the goddess on Monday night in the ancient temple of the Goddess situated in Pachheti suburb of Bodhgaya. According to information received about six months ago during restoration of the temple a devotee from the village had golden eyes fixed in the image.

Three Arrested with Buddha Image
Tankuppa (Gaya), 25 August (Dainik Jagran). Police arrested three people on Sunday night with an ancient Buddha image. This image was recovered in the village of Shahpokhar in the Fatehpur precinct. According to police sources during a raid on the home of K. M. Khalil and M. Vasir the Buddha image was seized. Police also seized a pistol and five live cartridges. The above mentioned were arrested. The arrested K. M. Khalil and M. Vasir gave indications which led to the arrest of Rajesh Mistri of Dumarichatti village.

Surendra Goes Home On an Elephant Gaya, 16 August (Dainik Jagran). The accused in the contraversial abduction of Atul Prakash and three police officers case former State Minister Dr Surendra Prasad Yadav emerged today from the Jail ward of the Hospital riding on an elephant. Mr Yadav got a bail warrant issued by Patna High Court on Thursday. He had been in custody for the previous two and a half months. Mr Yadav's procession emerged from the Jail ward of the Gaya Anugraha Narayan Medical College and Hospital at one o'clock and set off for his residence located in Chirayatand. Since Saturday there had been a celebratory atmosphere amongst his supporters in the grounds of the hospital. The city resounded to the sight and sound of his followers dancing to the playing of various famous bands and musical troupes. Accompanied by cavalcades of motorcycles and cars. Mr Yadav's supporters seated him on an elephant in the hospital grounds themselves. He was greated with garlands of flowers by various leaders including Shyamdev Paswan the MLA for Fatehpur, the District Council Chief Bindeshwari Prasad Yadav, alias, Bindi Yadav, and others. In order to complete the paperwork for his discharge from jail he arrived at the central prison at four o'clock, and after completing the paperwork went to his home. Thousands of his follows accompanied him following on behin him. The crowds of officials and MLAs wishing to give him good wishes on his release from jail had begun to gather at this home from early in the afternoon. For his supporters and the voters of the area arrangements for their food had been made in pavillions set up outside his home. Thousands of people enjoyed excellent catering. [the rest of the story is a list of people who congratulated him on his release.]

India to put a Space Craft on the Moon by 2008 New Delhi, 15 August (Dainik Jagran). The Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today made an announcement that by 2008 India would send it's first space craft to the moon, to be called Moon-One. Speaking from the parade ground at the Red Fort at the celebration of the 57th anniversary of Indian Independence he said that India had already started making preparations for this in the space sector.

[note: due to the new structure of the Dainik Jagran website I have to get to Bihar news via National news, so I may put the odd national story in which catches my eye.]

Scheme to put 'Dustbins' on platforms Gaya, 27 July (Dainik Jagran). In a scheme to move towards a neat and clean and beautiful station the railway has began an initiative. In this initiative around 70 large sized dustbins [note: English word 'dustbin' is being used here] will be placed around the station. The scheme is for beauty and cleanliness to display flowers and foliage in vases in them.
In order to stop refuse spreading around the platforms around 60 large sized dustbins will be placed. These will be used by passengers. This information was given by the railway district hospital which said that this work was being done by the health department. The sources said that an attempt was being made to make the platforms appear clean and beautiful. In this near to all the offices vases of beautiful flowers and foliage would be situated.

Accused Arrested in Dowry Murder
Bodhgaya, July 21 (Dainik Jagran). On Saturday night the Police arrested Babalu Sav the main accused in the village of Pareva in the Bodhgaya precinct Dowry Murder case and sent him to prison.

[Note: there has not been a lot of Bodhgaya news in the Dainik Jagran recently. Also the Jagran has recently changed its website to a database format which means all previous links no longer work to Jagran articles.]

American tourist robbed in Bodh Gaya Indo-Asian News Service Patna, July 16 (Hindustan Times). An American tourist, Ronaldo Varuno, was robbed of Rs 4 lakh on Tuesday afternoon by his taxi driver near the tourist town of Bodh Gaya in Bihar, police said. Varuno was travelling to Bodh Gaya, 110 km from Patna, in a rented Maruti van that he had hired from Hajipur in Vaishali district, police said. The American was in Bihar to visit historical sites connected to Buddhism. Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment 2,500 years ago in Bodh Gaya. A police official said that Varuno was robbed only off his money, his other belongings are safe, adding that they have sent a team to Hajipur to search for the van driver.

Policeman burnt to Death in Gaya, two killed, eight injured including seven soldiers.
Gaya, July 4. (Dainik Jagran).
In the extremist effected Paraiya district of Gaya on Wednesday night in a co-ordinated attack by the banned organisations The Maoist Communist Center and Peoples' War they burnt one policeman to death and riddled two others with bullets. In the violent exchange eight officers, one of whom was a watchman, were injured. The extremists burnt the police station down and a jeep and escaped with some supplies. [full story on Dainik Jagran]

Work on Revision of Electoral Register Begins in Bodhgaya Block
Bodhgaya, June 28. (Dainik Jagran).
The work on the revision of the electoral register in Bodhgaya block has begun again amidst an atmosphere of rising and falling expectations.
It is said that there has been an increase in the roughly 25 thousand voters of the block. A though investigation of which is being done by the block development officer. An order has been issued for all the 25 thousand voters to present themselves in order at the block office. Due to the inclusion of rural voters in this list there has been criticism of the block office.
It is said that in the last revision of the electoral register whilst sitting in the office the figures were adjusted so as to harmonise the increases. But due to the complaints at the election the procedure is now being done in an organised manner. Meanwhile some voters say that the register has already been revised on the basis of the 1995 register, and it is only natural that the number of voters should have greatly increased over such a long time. Especially in the urban area of Bodhgaya there has been a great increase.
Reliable sources say that some teachers have once more been appointed to make an entirely new register of voters. According to the block development officer Afaja-ul Rahmana the review work may be finished by the 7th of July.

Restoration Work on Mahabodhi Temple Halted for a fortnight
Bodhgaya, June 24 ( (Dainik Jagran).
The restoration works have been halted for about a fortnight on World Heritage monument the Mahabodhi temple situated in the tourist site of Bodhgaya.
The whole temple is being restored under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India. When the President of India visited on the 31st of May last the work was halted due to security considerations and the scaffolding around the temple taken down.
During the restoration work the exterior plaster of the temple is being removed and replaced with a new plaster made according to an ancient recipe. The restoration works are taking place after a gap of 47 years since the last time under the Archaeological experts supervision. The restoration work has been largely completed on the South side to the two small sub spires. It is noteworthy that the committee is spending about 40 lakh rupees on the restoration works. Two years were allotted for the work. But, it is possible that the work will not be finished during that time. The Temple Management Committee secretary Mr Kali Charan Singh Yadav said that within a few days work would be on again in an organised form.

I am like a true disciple of Buddha: Kalam
Bodh Gaya (Bihar), May 31. (PTI, via the Hindu): "Like a true disciple of Lord Buddha, I always crave for truth," President A P J Abdul Kalam told a group of Buddhist monks today during an interaction under the Bodhi tree where Prince Siddharth attained enlightenment to become the Buddha. full story

President comes as a pilgrim to Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya, May 31 ( (Dainik Jagran).
The President considered himself blessed to come here on Saturday when he fulfilled a longheld aspiration. He came himself in the form of a pilgrim to Bodhgaya. It was intensely hot, but without a hat or umbrella he walked around in the burning sun.
He entered the temple compound barefoot and went to the temple and worshipped sitting down in the inner sanctum. Like an ordinary pilgrim he sat in the shade of the Bodhi tree. In his own words he said he was moved by the splendour of the image and the temple. He felt moved. He chatted with the monks and laughter could be heard. He kept looking at the tree. He knew it was the tree where Siddharta got enlightenment. He kept rubbing his feet with his hands and several times closed his eyes as if in meditation. All was silent nearby and everything was peaceful. When he went to the Muchalinda pond he also seemed like an ordinary pilgrim and clapped with joy when he saw the fish in the pond. The fish were hungry and he fed them with rice. He swayed like a person full of joy. During his tour of Bodhgaya the President was like an ordinary person. There was not a hint of any pomp and circumstance during the visit.

[Interesting to compare with another take on the same story from the Dainik Jagran]

Like a Curfew at the scene of Peace
Bodhgaya, May 31 ( (Dainik Jagran).
The distict administration's security arrangements made the scene of the great peace resemble a curfew. Saturday may indeed have been the President's day but for tourists it made life very difficult. Even the media found it difficult to even get a drink of water. Whilst scores of locals stood in the burning sun for hours in hope of catching a glimpse. The Presidents helicopter arrived at 12.40, but all the shops on the route from the helipad to the temple were closed from 8am onwards. Perhaps this was done from the viewpoint of security, but the police were watching everything and people were not even allowed near the shops without identification cards. Due to this the entire area was deserted. All vehicles were stopped from entering Bodhgaya on both entrance roads at a distance of about 2 km. Pilgrims were also prevented from entering the temple from the morning on. You could say that nobody from outside Bodhgaya was allowed to enter it at all. Hundreds of people held on to hopes of seeing the President in temperatures of 43.7 people still came out of their homes. A few could be seen standing near the barricading by the helipad, but not a glimpse was to be had. The moment the helicopter landed the air was full of dust and the president got into his car and went straight to the temple.

Police Arrive in Bodhgaya to investigate abduction
Gaya, 13 June, (Dainik Jagran).
The Rohtas Police arrived in Bodhgaya on Tuesday night In connection with the investigation of sensational abduction of two gold merchants from Dehri-on-Son.
According to sources at the police station on the fifth of June at the house of the abducted gold merchants at 8.29 in the morning a call of 35 seconds was recorded from the phone booth outside of Magadh University in which a demand for money was made. The commanding officer of the Police station said that the Rohtas police had taken a print out of all the calls made that day from that phone booth. Due to a marriage taking place at the house of the booth operator he could not be questioned.

Motorcycle Passenger Killed in Vehicle Accident
Gaya, 9 June, (Dainik Jagran).
On Sunday night on the Gaya-Bodhgaya road in a collision between a motorcycle and a tempo one motorcycle passenger was killed and a second is in a serious condition.
According to police sources to the East of Bodhgaya near to the Burmese Vihar a red tempo went out of control and ran into a Bajaj motorcycle. The passengers on the motorcycle, Ashok Malakar an inhabitant of the Manglagauri suburb of Gaya and Jitendra Yadav were injured. For better treatment Ashok was referred to Patna where his death took place. One of Jitendra's feet was fractured in the accident. His treatment is being carried out in the Magadh Medical college and hospital.

Money Extorted from Small Shopkeepers on the pretense of contracting
Gaya, 7 June, (Dainik Jagran). Protection money is being extorted from the small shop keeper on the Godam road in Bodhgaya on the pretense that it is contract fees. The local administration is unable to stop this exploitation of the shopkeepers. The local shop keepers have made a demand that the excesses should be reigned in and the rates should be fixed by the local council.
On the Godam road from Gandhi Chowk there are all manner of small stalls. The shops here sell vegetables, cloth, make-up, shoes, brassware, etc. Most of the people setting up stalls are from local villages and traders from the market.
The stall holders say there are two officials who have been appointed to collect taxes from the stalls on the footpath. There are separate officers for the Sunday and Monday markets. Stall holders Sitaram Prasad, Makholi Devi, Ramaratiya Devi , Surayu Mahto, Ravi Kumar, Anvar, Rajiya Khatoon etc. said that the Bodhgaya local council has fixed a rate of two rupees a basket to be charged. But the contractors are extracting four to six rupees a basket. If the stall holders do not give in to the excessive demands they are beaten up. The foot path stall holders are demanding the local administration should take appropriate action to stop the excesses.

President Kalam visits Bodhgaya
Manuwant Choudhary Sunday, June 1, 2003 (Bodhgaya): (NDTV) President A P J Abul Kalam, also famously known an India's missile man, visited the temple of peace—the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya. He said it was his dream to visit the land where Buddha got enlightenment. But Buddhist monks remained skeptical. But President Kalam said he saw no contradiction in his past as a nuclear scientist and his passion for peace. "Today I have taken a vow to bridge all islands to create a spiritual island, something that Lord Buddha wanted," said the President. A missile man is not quite a man of peace, but that's exactly what President Kalam would like us to believe.

President to sit on ground and talk
Gaya, 27 May (Dainik Jagran). The President Dr. A.P.J. Kalam during his tour of Bodhgaya will meet with the monks. This meeting will be to find out certain things. In this he will desire to know the meaning of 'me and mine.' Preparations are being made for this in the head office of the the All India Monks Association.
The President is coming to the office of the All India Monks Association at the invitation of the General Secretary of the Association, and former state legislature member, Ven. Dhammaviryo Mahathero. Ven Mahathero said to the 'Jagran' that Kalam is coming to the office as a friend and not a president. A friend who wants to know about the enlightenment gained by the Buddha after six years of austerity. Along with this why has the message of peace from this land of the Buddha became so dim? Why are Buddhist monks silent? To answer all these questions a seminar has been organised. The title of which is 'How to remove the ego of I and my.'
The President is to come to the monks head office after visiting the temple. No special arrangements are being made at the office. When entering the verandah of the office this is a picture in which there are the former President K. R. Narayanan and Ven. Dhammaviryo and other VIPs. A stone is to be laid under this picture. Which will mark the inauguration of this office and by which His Excellency's name would be inscribed on the building. In connection with this Ven. Dhammaviryo said that as he was coming to Bodhgaya therefore his friends name would remain here, this was the reason that it was being done. [The Hindi is as unclear as my translation:-PGF]
There is a small hall on the verandahs southern side and it is there that the President will take part in the seminar with the monks. The Venerable said that the President is coming as a pilgrim to Bodhgaya. The administration should be worried about this. A white cloth would be spread on the ground in the hall and there their friend would be greeted. The theme of the seminar would be on the path to 'The good of the masses, the benefit of the masses.' (bahujan hitay-bahujan sukhay). How can the individuals sense of I (aham) be dispelled. How can Bodhgaya play a role in world peace. On all these matters discussions would take place. He said that on these matters experts from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian religions would also join the monks. It would not be very crowded. There was space for fifty or sixty people to sit in that room. He said that no time had been fixed. When somebody wanted to learn that they had to be told.
_________________

Note: The reports of what Ven. Dhammaviryo said seem a little garbled in the Hindi, and I have reproduced that in the English.
It is notable that the reporter speaks of a question posed by Ven. Dhammaviryo as 'how can an individual's aham be dispelled' (vyakti se aham kaise dur ho) which makes the Buddhist teaching of there being no self (anatta) sounds like the Advaita teaching of ahamkara as the root of dukha:- PGF.

Bodhgaya Busy In Preparation for Welcoming His Excellency the President
Gaya, 26 May (Dainik Jagran). Preparations for the welcome for his Excellency the President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam are in full swing in Bodhgaya. Preparations are being made by the local administration, the Temple Management Committee and the All India Monks Association each working in its own way. The final program in the President's tour of Bihar will be a visit to Bodhgaya on the 31st of May.
The Presidents helicopter will land on the largest open ground in Bodhgaya, the Kalacakra field. For the landing of the President's helicopter three helipads are being constructed on the field. The district administration has employed around a hundred labourers in this work. The road is being barricaded on both sides. The samvedak [seems to be a word being used for "contractor":-PGF] working here on Monday morning seemed so busy he did not even have time to stop and say anything. The samvedak said whilst working only that the helipad had to be finished today and handed over to the administration.
The Kalacakra field takes up a major area of land in Bodhgaya and is used for public functions.[1] All the major events held in Bodhgaya take place on this field. Due to Religious Teacher the Dalai Lama holding the Kalacakra puja on this site it has got its name. It was on this site that in the first year of the Buddhist Festival that the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee addressed the public. Political and non-political events are celebrated on this site.The helicopter of the nation's first citizen and "missile man" the famous President Dr. Kalam will land on this site.
The temporary shops and stalls which are put out on the roads everyday have been completely cleared away. A neat and clean street is visible. The work of barricading has begun. The paving of sandstone from Chunar on the way to the temple has been polished. This work has been done after many years. In order to do this work finely experts have been employed. But up to now nobody knows how the president will get from the helipad to the temple. It is believed that as was the case with the Prime Minister the district administration will arrange for a car to take him to the temple.[2] The President will spend about 45 minutes in the temple. After that the President will go to the office of the All India Monks Association. This office lies in the path of the road to the biggest statute. There painting and repairing work is in progress. All this work is being done by the monks themselves. After a long time a visit of the President to Bodhgaya is being greeted with enthusiasm and busy preparations. After seeing the whole of Bodhgaya it seems as if preparations are being made for a very special guest indeed.

________________________
1. It was created in 1956 for the celebrations of the 2500th anniversary of the birth of the Buddha, at which Pandit Nehru was present, by demolishing a large area of houses that existed on the site at that time.
2. It is less than a kilometre from the Kalacakra Maidan to the temple.

Polluted Water Supply in Bodhgaya Block
Bodhgaya, 23 May, (Dainik Jagran).
Complaints about the water supplied in the Bodhgaya area by the water supply company being polluted with insects are common place these days. It is said that during recent days the quality of the water supplied in the mornings and evenings is such that it is full of filth and insects. In rural areas of Bodhgaya there is an uproar over water supply. Whilst in the urban area there is misuse being made of a number of standpipes which have been installed. Due to the lack of installation of taps on the stand pipes the water is ruined. From this various types of problems and worries are created.
It is notable that due to taps not being fitted to the stand pipes before the water supply begins air from outside goes in the pipes, due to this it is natural that there is dirt and insects getting into the water. The two water towers in Bodhgaya have not been cleaned for years.

Change in Presidents Program in Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya, 22 May, (Dainik Jagran).
The time for the visit of the President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's visit to Bodhgaya has been changed. According to reliable sources his special helicopter will arrive at the Kalacakra maidan at noon. After that he will go straight to the temple. There he will spend half an hour after which he will inaugurate a seminar. Reliable sources say that the program for meeting with school children is still not fixed. But the president will meet with teachers in Bodhgaya. He will return from Bodhgaya at about half past one. According to the previous program he was to have stayed until evening.

Japanese Tourist Cheated out of 1.27 Lakh
Bodhgaya, 22 May, (Dainik Jagran).
A Japanese Tourist has filed a case against a private travel agent over being cheated out of lakhs of rupees whilst touring India. Bodhgaya police station in charge Bedanand Mishra said that Nemoto Michio has filed a case for fraud against Mohammad Sahabuddin of Bodhgaya and Mohammad Shahid Abgila and family. According to the tourist's statment Mohammad Shahid offered to put up the Japanese tourist at no cost in his family home. After that he organised tours to Patna, Rajgir and other places. In this matter he brought the Japanese Tourist to Bodhgaya on the third of May to exchange Japanese currency for Indian money but said that the bank was closed and that the money could be changed though a tourist company "Middle Way Tour and Travels."
Mohammad Shahid asked for 75 thousand rupees to give to the tourist, 25 thousand to give for feeding the poor, eight thousand to for the Gaya-Bodhgaya car fare and ten thousand for supplies of hashish. Which the tourist gave. After which on the 7th of May the money was exchanged. On the ninth of May the said tourist went to Kathmandu. On arriving there he found that on the third of May 118910 rupees had been withdrawn and on the seventh of May 8195 rupees had been withdrawn.
On returning from Kathmandu the Japanese Tourist filed a case for having been cheated out of 1.27 Lakh rupees. According to Bodhgaya police station in charge Bedanand Mishra the police were searching for the accused to arrest him.

Pilgrims from West Bengal Robbed
Gaya, 21 May, (Dainik Jagran).
Anti-social element robbed pilgrims from West Bengal who had come to perform religious observances at the Devghat altar in Gaya. The victim Devidas Mukherjee gave this information to the civil lines police station. The First Information Report was registered late on Wednesday eveing.
The locals complain that due to police inactivity crimminals are active in the area. Generally pilgrims are an easy target for the crimminals. Several of the crimminals are being protected by the local police. There is no fear of the police in the crimminals.

PM to help retain Mahabodhi temple's heritage status Indo-Asian News Service Patna, May 19 (Hindustan Times)
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has come to the rescue of the Mahabodhi temple in Bihar by promising to intervene with the UN which threatened to remove it from the World Heritage list.
The 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple was declared a world heritage site in June last year, becoming the 23rd site in India to be so honoured by UNESCO.
However, UNESCO said authorities in Bihar were flouting guidelines for the maintenance of a heritage monument and this would result in it being de-listed, said Bhadant Nagarjun Surai Sesai, a Buddhist member of the Minority Commission. full story on HT website

School Holiday Delayed for Presidential Visit
Bodhgaya, 19 May, (Dainik Jagran). Due to the program for the President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam meeting with local school children in Bodhgaya during his visit the Summer School Holiday has been delayed. Instead of the holiday starting on the 24th it will start on the 31st in primary schools.
District Education Inspector Kaushal Kishor Prasad has issued a memo to this effect to teachers. In this regard it is notable that on the afternoon of the 31st between four and five pm there is a program for the president to meet school students in Bodhgaya, which would not be possible if the schools were already closed for the summer. Due to this the summer holidays will begin on the 1st of June.

Mahabodhi Temple Resounds to the Sound of "Buddham Sharanam Gacchami"
Bodhgaya, 17 May, (Dainik Jagran). On Saturday on the 2547th triple anniversary of the Buddha, [i.e. the day of his birth, enlightenment and death] the Mahabodhi Temple resounded to the Sound of "Buddham Sharanam Gacchami." Thousands of Buddhist devotees took out a morning procession around the temple. On this occasion alms were given to five hundred monks and the committee's magazine "Prajna" was launched.
The assembled crowds of devotees on Saturday morning performed puja and adoration under the Bodhi tree and chanted sutras etc. Under the joint auspices of the Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee and the National Buddhist Council a dawn procession was arranged. From various Buddhist monasteries monks came playing their traditional instruments and arrived at the Vajrasana and the inner sanctum of the temple. On this occasion around ten thousand national and international Buddhist followers were present.
On this accession the VC of Magadh University Dr. Abhimanyu Singh launched the the committee's magazine "Prajna." After the launching prasad [blessed food] was distributed.

Buddha's bones to go on public display
Thursday, 15 May , 2003, 17:33 Patna: (Sify News)
The bones of Buddha will go on public display in Patna from Friday, the anniversary of his birth 2,600 years ago, officials said. Visitors to the Patna Museum will pay Rs. 100 rupees for the privilege of being able to view the priceless Buddhist relic in a specially designed room, museum director Madhuri Aggrawal told reporters Thursday. "The Bihar government has cleared the proposal to charge Rs 100 from each visitor to see the casket containing the bones of Lord Buddha," she said. In the past, tourists could view the bones only after obtaining special permission, which involved a long and complicated procedure. Because the bones are priceless, the museum authorities had been reluctant to display them fearing theft or destruction. "The room accommodating the bones has been specially lighted and high security has been provided," Aggrawal said. The Buddha bones were briefly opened for public view on January 12 this year on the occasion of the Tibetan Kalchakra Puja, which attracted hordes of visitors. The bones were found during the 1958-1962 excavation by noted archaeologist A.S. Altekar of a Buddhist monastery at Vaishaligarh, 35 kilometers from Patna. "The bones of Lord Buddha were found in a casket made of a stone along with a gold plate, zinc coin and glass beads," Aggrawal said. The bones have been authenticated by archaeologists and are considered priceless. Various Buddhist organizations have objected to the keeping of the heritage in the museum and have instead proposed the creation of a special memorial in the Mahaboddhi Temple, at Bodhgaya -- also in Bihar -- where the Buddha gained enlightenment. The Bihar government has however ruled that the museum is the safest place to store the relic. "The state government has taken a decision to keep the (bones) in the museum considering its historical and religious importance," said state Tourism minister Ashok Kumar Singh.

Newly Wed Murdered and Body Burnt
Bodhgaya, 7 May (Dainik Jagran).
In the village of Pareva in the Bodhgaya police precinct a newly wed bride was sacrificed on the altar of dowry and her body burnt. According to information received from Bodhgaya police station sources Basant Sav an inhabitant of Nadaraganj in Gaya married his daughter Rinki to Rajesh Kumar inhabitant of Pareva in May 2002.
Due to not giving some of the prior agreed sum of the dowry the bride began to be harassed and finally on Tuesday Rinki was murdered and her body burnt. In this respect a first information report was made by Basant Sav at Bodhgaya police station against Rajesh Kumar and his family. According to the Police Station In-Charge Devanand Mishra after the filing of case number 70/03 against the accused raids were being carried out to arrest the accused.

Bihar cities fight over Buddha’s ashes
By: Amlan Home Chowdhury May 7, 2003
Bodhgaya (Mid Day): The ashes of Gautam Buddha nearly led to a war soon after his death and cremation in the fifth century between seven kings who wanted possession of them. Over two thousand years later, his ashes has led to another battle between the three Bihar cities of Patna, Vaishali and Bodhgaya. The three cities are fighting to house the casket of Lord Buddha, made of soap stone, which contains some of his ashes, a small copper coin, a tiny piece of gold and a piece of a broken conch shell. The casket was discovered in 1958, and has been opened only thrice since then, in 1998, 1999 and 2001. In 1998 when the lid was first opened, a small portion of the holy ash blew away in the wind. full story on Mid Day

Budget of 1.27 Crores passed for Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya, 5 May (Dainik Jagran).
After a long discussion at a special meeting of the Bodhgaya Town Council a budget for the financial year 2003-04 was passed by an oral vote of the acting officials of around one crore and 27 lakh rupees [at 40 rupees to a US dollar that's about a quarter of a million dollars:-PGF].
On this occasion representatives of all the wards took part. In the budget which was passed special attention was paid to the provision of electricity and water supplies in all wards. Dinesh Singh, the councilor for ward number six, and Vijay Yadav, councilor for ward number nine, proposed that the town council should also apply new taxes. It was decided unanimously to use ten percent of the budget of the Mahabodhi temple Management Committee and ten percent of the budget of the Archaeological Museum on the development of Bodhgaya. Along with this it was decided to apply business tax and trade tax on private hotels and schools.
It is reported that there were several types of mistake in the budget which had to be corrected before it was presented again. In the amended budget one crore and 24 lakh rupees are to be spent on development works. The remaining three and half lakhs of profit were also passed in the budget.

Bodhgaya sacred bodhi tree recovering from virus attack by ANJANA GAMAGE, 4 May, (Sunday Observer). News of the sacred bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, being slowly destroyed by a virus has been cause for serious concern here. And Buddhist authorities have instructed the Secretary General of the Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, to take whatever possible action to remedy the situation, through the Indian government and the UNESCO office in New Delhi. link to full story

Committee formed to lower curtain on dispute
Bodhgaya, 19 April, (Dainik Jagran). In the field of maintaining the cultural heritage of Bihar the Mahanth Shatanand Giri Sanskrit College is the custodian of a splendid tradition, but, today due to clashes caused by utter selfishness it is in tatters after a matter of a mere few years. full story

Killer pneumonia threat looms over Bihar town IANS PATNA: 6, April, 2003 (New India Press). A Bihar town that receives throngs of tourists from Southeast Asian nations is at high risk of an outbreak of killer pneumonia as there is no facility for screening passengers arriving by air. A large number of visitors have landed at Gaya international airport since the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in East and Southeast Asia and have entered the town without any health checks. Most of the tourists have come to visit Bodh Gaya, the birthplace of Buddhism 10 km from Gaya town. full story at New India Press

Fear that SARS may enter India via Gaya Airport Delhi/Bodhgaya, April 5th, (The Statesman). Fear is growing that SARS may enter the country through the Gaya International Airport as no arrangements are there for medical screening of passengers coming from South East Asian countries. Gaya’s airport authorities, which began functioning only recently, are still to set up such screening facilities for passengers though the Centre has directed all international airports and sea ports to do so to prevent the entry of the killer flu, causing panic in South-east Asian countries and Canada, from entering India. Bodhgaya, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimages, gets numerous visitors from Thailand and South-east Asian countries. Sources at the airport said Indian Airlines’ Bodhgaya–Bangkok and Bodhgaya–Sri Lanka international flights were operational and passengers from South-east Asian nations were being allowed to check-out without proper medical check-up. Director of the Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport Mr AK Singh, however, said that no arrangements were required here right now to check the killer pneumonia as the airport was not operating any direct international passenger traffic. The airport used to operate international flights to Kathmandu earlier, but they remain suspended for the past several months, he said. Senior civil aviation ministry officials in Delhi also asserted there was only one weekly flight from Bangkok arriving at Bodhgaya and therefore there was no reason to panic. full story on the Statesman

Ten Thousand Fedayeen to go from Gaya to Iraq: Shakeel Gaya, 4 April 2003, (Dainik Jagran). Minority Welfare, Energy and Law Minister Shakeel Ahmad Khan announced on Friday in the Gandhi Maidan at Gaya that in support of Saddam Hussain of Iraq ten thousand Fedayeen will go to Iraq. Mr Khan was addressing citizens who had come from a peace march from the Tanjim Aimme Mosque. Mr Khan said that America, Europe and other countries had attacked Iraq. America and Britain are the greatest terrorists in the world. Mr Khan said that several hundred thousands of people in Bihar were supporters of Saddam Hussain. [followed by long list of people at meeting].

Bodhgaya's sacred Mahabodhi in danger
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti, 16 March 2003, (Sunday Leader). The sacred Bodhi at the world's most venerated and significant Buddhist site of pilgrimage, Bodhgaya is dying with officials concerned turning a blind eye. Located on the banks of the Neranjana River in sacred Bodhgaya in Southern Bihar, the Bodhi tree is infested with mill bugs that are sucking its sap. full story Also see Radio Australia and GoAsiaPacific.com.

Sacred Buddhist tree nears death By: Amlan Home Chowdhury March 11, 2003 (ChaloMumbai.com) Bodhgaya: The Mahabodhi tree, worshipped by Buddhists as the one under which Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment to become Lord Buddha, is inching towards its death. Insects called mealybugs threaten to eat into and kill this living legend. Link to full story on ChaloMumbai website

World’s highest Buddha statue project in Kushi Nagar starts: Lucknow Jan 24, 03 (UP Goverment Website) The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Ms. Mayawati has said here today that the State government would soon provide land for installation of world’s highest statue of Mahatma Buddha in Kushi Nagar district by the Maitreya Project. She said that the expenses on the installation of the statue and other works would be borne by the Maitreya. She assured the officers of the Maitreya Project that the Government would extend all possible cooperation to it and remove all hurdles coming in the way. She directed the concerning officers to hold discussions with the officers of the Maitreya Project to finalise an agreement for installation of the statue. link to full story [this is a bit late appearing here but I just noticed it]

BodhgayaNews One Year Old Today
Melbourne, Saturday, 15 March, 2003. (Peter Friedlander). Today marks one year of the Bodhgaya news website. Its been quite an eventful year as well in Bodhgaya: the Maitreya Statue Project seems to have relocated to Kushinagar; World Heritage Listing has brought new attention to Bodhgaya; the Dalai Lama attracted thousands of people to a great Kalacakra Puja and the Ambedkarite monks attracted widespread attention to their claim to the temple. One way or another its fair to say that a years local events clearly show how fast things are changing in Bodhgaya. How much the hardships and travails of the local people have been changed by these developments is much harder to say, but it doesn't seem from following the local news that much has really changed in this regard. A couple of notes on the website itself, I have renewed my website subscription and hope to continue the site for another year. Over the last year there have been over 37,057 requests to view pages on the site, thats an average of about a hundred pages a day. Another way to look at it is that the visits have come from some 7,734 or so unique hosts, which is roughly equivalent to the number of different visitors to the site. So thanks to all of you who visited and please do keep on visiting as I hope to continue to provide a similar perspective on Bodhgaya news during the coming year again.

Site of where Buddha spent his time after his enlightenment just a memory Bodhgaya 10 March (Dainik Jagran). A mere two kilometres from the international tourist site of Bodhgaya the remains at Mocharim of the ancient Muchalinda tank and the Rajayatana Tree bear the brunt of neglect. It was on this site that Gautama Buddha spent some of the time immediately after his enlightenment.
In the modern era the Muchalinda tank is the site of encroachments by the villagers, a refuse dump and a place to tie up animals. According to historians and Buddhists it was on this site that the Buddha spent the sixth week after his enlightenment. Here the Serpant King Muchalinda protected him from wind and stormy rain. Along with this he spent the seventh week at the nearby Rajayatana tree. It was on this site that tradition says the two Burmese pilgrims Tapusa and Bhalluka met him. These two businesmen offered him rice and laddu and honey. After which Buddha offered them a hair from his head and taught them the Buddha Dharma.
Today thousands of Buddhists come from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Taiwan, Singapore and countless other countries to see the site of the Muchalinda tank and the Rajayatana tree. Villager Subhash Kumar Singh says that there is also a possiblity for an increase in visitor numbers. However, the tank needs to be cleaned, cleared from encroachments, and an access road needs to be constructed. It is the case that Muchalinda village is on the road to the Southern Terrorist affected districts which is only a rough track and is at the junction of highways two and 83. However due to the dreadful state of the road the villagers have to face much difficulty, how then can foreign pilgrims negotiate the track? It is said the former Gaya Magistrate S. M. Raju payed some attention to this road. After the election the villagers appealed the new local MP, Ramji Manjhi. But the local representatives and administration have not paid any attention. This important Buddhist period site today remains neglected.

Travelers Bothered by Encroachments and Dirt in Station Compound Gaya, 10 March (Dainik Jagran). Gaya, which is now famed on the international map, has a railway station which in several respects appears neglected. The ordinary traveler everyday has to face uncontrolled parking and widespread filth in the station compound area. This could be due to the lack of care of the railway administration, or their lack of morale. The scene clearly shows that in their eyes there are no such thing as facilities for passengers here.
Who is to be blamed for the lack of order in the station compound? It is difficult to say. The unauthorized parking of vehicles has been going on for ages in the compound whilst the railway administration has several times taken steps to remove illegal structures from the area, but no permanent solution has been possible. In order to free the area from this local problem the administration has planned a Tempo and Rickshaw stand. For this considerable expense has also been made by the railway, but once again only the same has appeared the same old difficult straits (literally: three leaves of the Butea frondosa tree). People now openly piss on the site of this proposed stand. [see story from February 1998 Turned into a Urinal] There is nobody to stop them or even bothering to watch. The station entrances and exits are the victims of encroachment by pan stalls. Travelers have to ford floods of filth every other day at the exit. Every day passengers can be seen holding handkerchiefs over their noses and cursing the railway administration as they negotiate this obstacle.

Rail and Aviation Ministers Visit Mahabodhi Temple, call for train from Gaya to Chennai Bodhgaya, 10 March (Dainik Jagran). The Railway Minister Nitish Kumar said that consideration would be given to the call for a train from Gaya to Chennai. Mr Kumar visited the Mahabodhi Temple on Sunday night. He was accompanied by Shah Nawaz Hussain the Civil Aviation Minister.
Mr Kalicaran Yadav the secretary of the Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee called on the minister to consider the calls for trains from Gaya to Chennai and from Gauhati to Gaya. Mr Kumar ordered that Mr Yadav be supplied with data about rail traffic. He assured Mr Yadav that the ministry would consider the matter sympathetically. Prior to this the District Magistrate head of and Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee Brajesh Mehotra had presented souvenirs of the temple to the Ministers. Mr Mehotra told the ministers about the HARK system being installed in the temple compound and told them about the history of the ancient temple. Through the HARK system the history of the temple would be told in foreign languages. Monk in charge Bodhipal presented khatas (Hindi: khada) to both ministers as symbols of peace and faith. [note: HARF is an acronym, please visit www.crcs.niit.com for more details, care of Sanjay Gupta or NIIT, thanks]

Police Recover Stolen Statues Gaya 28 February (Dainik Jagran). Today the police recovered the stolen statues of Surya-Vishnu and Ram from near Kaldaspur village in the Chandauti precinct. All three statues were stolen by criminals from a temple situated in Sahabajpur village last month.
The local village community were quite agitated in their demand that the statues be recovered and the criminals caught. The villagers attracted the attention of the administration by pickets, demonstrations, and road blocks. The police superintendent Ravindran Shankaran charged the deputy superintendent Ratnamuni Sanjiv with the responsibility of maintaining law and order. Under Mr Sanjiv's leadership the police have conducted raids in several surrounding villages in the last few days. The police received considerable aid from "The Bowl". A devotee with a miraculous "bowl" was brought from Nawada to Gaya in the last few days. The said devotee had given police considerable aid in recovering the statues of Lakshman and Sita in the last few days. "The Bowl" was taken to Sahabajapur village. He announced that the bowl was capable of causing the criminals to have bloody vomit and diarrhoea. The criminals were struck by fear and throwing the statues away near Kaldaspur village early this morning fled. The image were found with mud and sand on them. Police Superintendent Ravindran Shankaran today announced that the forces of law and order lead by Deputy superintendent Ratnamuni Sanjiv and Chandauti Precinct in-charge Madhusudan Prasad along with other police officers had today recovered the statues.

Small Shops being built in front of Vishnupad Temple Gaya 26 February (Dainik Jagran). Shops are being constructed at the eastern entrance to the sacred Vishnupad temple. The community of Gayapal Brahmin priests are opposed to this development. Today at the site of the constructions several members of the community accused the head and secretary of the Temple Committee of illegal construction. Today the construction works are in their seventh day.
Four shops are being built at the main eastern entrance to the temple. Two in front of Lalita Mai's temple and two below Hanuman's temple. This construction is being carried out by the Vishnupad temple committee. This route is the main entrance to the temple for pilgrims coming from inner Gaya and Deva Ghat. Several stalls were already in existence by the side of the entrance, which were later rebuilt as pakka constructions. Concerning this matter there is once again tension in the Priestly community. The community is roughly equally divided into those who support, and oppose the construction. [Story continues with details of how since at least 1997 this dispute has been ongoing. At that time it was ruled that the new shops would spoil the appearance of the temples they are in front of. But despite the earlier rulings that no new constructions should be made the present committee has changed its policy and authorised the construction of the shops.]

Central Tourism Minister Will Take part in a High Level Meeting in Bodhgaya Today Gaya 25 February (Dainik Jagran). The Central Tourism Minister will address a high level meeting in Bodhgaya tomorrow. Today architects from Hudco [Hudco website] inspected Bodhgaya and surrounding areas. The District Commissioner Brajesh Mehotra said the architects were inspecting Bodhgaya in light of the "Mahabodhi Scheme". Due to the Mahabodhi temple having been named in the World Heritage list it was appropriate that Bodhgaya be developed on the world map. Mr Mehotra said that several issues had been discussed. He said that tomorrow the Central Tourism Minister would address a high level meeting in Bodhgaya. [long list of participants in the meeting] All arrangements had been made for the District commission's proposals to be presented to the meeting and to the Central Tourism Minister. He also said that after the meeting the Minister would inspect other Buddhist sites in the state.

Railway Manager Promises New Gifts to Buddhists Bodhgaya 22 February (Dainik Jagran). Mr S. C. Gupta General Manager of North Eastern Railways on a tour of Bodhgaya on Thursday promised two new gifts to Buddhists in the new year. Giving this information the secretary of the Temple Committee Kalicaran Singh Yadav said that Mr Gupta had promised a new train from Gauhati to Sarnath via Gaya. Along with this he had said the Chennai Bokaro train would be extended to Gaya.

Search for Statue Thieves helped by Bowl Gaya 21 February (Dainik Jagran). In the area around Kujapi near to Gaya town hundreds of villagers today followed a bowl around the area. The villagers were trying to find the statue thieves through the means of a bowl. The said bowl had helped police in the case of the theft of statues in Nawada district. Surendra Prasad of Kujapi in Chandauti precinct had called "Bhagatji" from Nawada. Bhagatji claims to find offenders through the means of his bowl. Today the bowl was set to work. The bowl set off from Aradih the bowl first set off and went up a hill and then ran down into a ravine type area. Due to the presence of rain water in the ravine it could not get any further. There was no positive outcome due to this today. But the bowl and the Bhagatji were the talk of the area today.

Fight in Minority Family, Six named Tankuppa (Gaya) 20 February (Dainik Jagran). Some members of the minority community forced their way into the house of other members of the minority community in Pippra village of Fatehpur precinct and badly beat up the inhabitants. In the fight the head of the household Anvari Khatum was severely injured with head wounds. He was treated in the local hospital. A case concerning the incident has been registered at the Fatehpur police station in which six people are named.

Several Passengers Condition Worsens after eating Cockroach Contaminated Food on Purushottom Express Gaya 17 February (Dainik Jagran). Due to the contamination of food with cockroaches in the pantry car of the Purushottam Express Train several passengers began to vomit today. The health of several started to deteriorate. The afflicted passengers and others raised an outcry on Gaya station today about this. People demanded that the food be sealed and tested. In regard to this matter the train remained at Gaya station for over 20 minutes. After assurance of appropriate action the train continued on its way. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

Rail Transport Suspended on Gaya-Kiul Section after Navada Massacre Gaya, 16 February (Dainik Jagran). After the communal massacre on the border of the Navada district today on the Gaya-Kiul railway line transport remained suspended today. Today the 806 Down Gaya Rampur Hath Passenger became a special at Kashicak station and returned to Gaya. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

BJP Protests at Maitreya Statue Project in UP Lucknow, 16 February. (Indian Express). The BJP and the BSP have again locked horns in Uttar Pradesh. This time over Chief Minister Mayawati’s move to acquire a plot of land, measuring 750 acres, near Kushinagar for the installation of a 500-ft bronze statue of Lord Buddha.
Full story on Indian Express Website

Two Statues stolen from Temple
Gaya, 15 February (Dainik Jagran). Last night in the Cherki precinct area of the district two statues were stolen from a temple. Unknown crimminals stole an image of Shiva and of Parvati from the temple s.Situated inthe Parsavan village of Cherki precinct. The police were not successful in recovering the images and have not caught the offenders so far. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

Union Protests at Dismal of Workers
Gaya, 14 February (Dainik Jagran). A special meeting of the Bihar Medical and Healthworkers union was held in the assembly hall of the Anugrah Narayan Medical College. At the meeting the leaders discussed the question of whether there was a plot afoot to dismiss all the medical workers appointed since 1980.
[full story on Dainik Jagran website]

[no Dainik Jagran Gaya news for 14 February.]

One Killed, two Injured, in shooting between MCC and Ranvir Sena
Gaya, 12 February (Dainik Jagran). Last Tuesday night near Nevda village in the terrorist effected Conch area of the District in firing between the MCC and the Ranvir Sena an MCC supporter called Jitendra Yadav was shot dead and two others were injured.
[full story on Dainik Jagran website]

New DSP of Homeguards takes office
Gaya, 11 February (Dainik Jagran). For the last few years the post of DSP of the homeguards has been occupied by Lalji Prasad. Yesterday the new DSP Jayant Kumar presented his credentials. The former District Head of the Bihar volunteer Homeguard force Mr Manoj Kumar said whilst giving this information that the home guards were happy at Mr Singh accepting the position. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

[no Dainik Jagran Gaya news on 11 February.]

Police Recover Woman's body buried in Ground Gaya 9 February (Dainik Jagran). The police today dug up the body of a woman from ground in Saidpur village in Alipur Precinct. The police sent the body for post mortem. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

MCC Kill two Abductees and Cut of Hands of Two Gaya 8 February (Dainik Jagran). The Banned terrorist organisation the MCC today killed two adbuctees and cut of the hands of two more before releasing them. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

Political Parties support Indefinate Strike in favour of Prisoners' rights Gaya 7 February (Dainik Jagran). The boycott of courts by the Central Committee for prisoners welfare today reached its 17th day. Transport vehicles for prisoners arrived and left court empty. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

One Injured in Road Accident Belaganj (Gaya) 6 February (Dainik Jagran). In a collision between a jeep and a motorcycle this evening the motor cyclist was injured and the jeep's driver was successful in absconding with his jeep. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

Ten members, incuding a woman, of an Interstate Con Gang arrested. Gaya 5 February (Dainik Jagran). Under the leadership of Police Superintendent Ravindran Shankaran a raid last night in Bageshvari Suburb was carried out. The police arrested ten members of a con gang with several kilos of false gold and silver. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

Forty Million Rupees exchanged at Gaya Airport Gaya 4 February (Dainik Jagran). The Vaishya bank has provided foreign exchange to pilgrims going on the Haj at Gaya airport. All the pilgrims have been provided with Saudi Riyals to the value of around 4 crore (40 million) Rupees. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

One Arrested Over Ramsheela Case
Gaya 3 February (Dainik Jagran). The Police have arrested somebody over the destruction of images in the temple on Ramsheela Hill and taken him into custody for questioning. The arrested youth, Kamlesh Pande of Patva Tola, is half mad. [full story on Dainik Jagran website]

Student Council Criticises Arrest of Underage Student Gaya 2 February (Dainik Jagran). The All India Student Council has criticised the arrest of an innocent underage student at Naugarh. The Student Council has said while the District Administration has failed to catch the anti-social elements who have been defacing religious statues it is arresting innocent underage students.[ Full story on Dainik Jagran Website]

Railway Enquiry Office Besieged By Complaints
Gaya, 1 February (Dainik Jagran). Nowadays the Railway Enquiry office at Gaya station is besieged with complaints. Passengers are not being given accurate information at this office. Due to which passengers can often be seen to be angered. Day by day the situation is getting worse.[Full story on Dainik Jagran Website]

Indian monks oppose Bharat Ratna to Dalai Lama
Anand Mohan Sahay in Patna January 23, 2003
Buddhist monks have raised objections to the proposal to honour Tibetan leader Dalai Lama with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India.
All India Monks Association general secretary Bhante Anand leads this section of Indian Buddhists, who are associated with the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya in Bihar. more

[note: normal site updates will resume after February 17th when the Australian summer holidays end]

Dalai Lama Calls For Peace With China at Buddhist Ceremony VOA News 21 Jan 2003 At least four people have been arrested in India amid heightened security during an eight-day Buddhist ceremony led by the Dalai Lama that ended Monday. more

Dalai Lama closes Buddhist festival with appeal for peace BODHGAYA, India, Jan 21 (AFP) - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has closed a Buddhist ceremony attended by 200,000 devotees with an appeal for peace with China. more

Tibetan Buddhist festival concludes peacefully in India despite threats By ANGUS MCDONALD, Associated Press Writer Bodh Gaya, January 20, 2003 (AP) - Despite a threat from some Indian monks to immolate themselves, the biggest religious gathering in Tibetan Buddhism concluded peacefully Monday with the departure of the Dalai Lama. more

Kalachakra Puja ends with a Long Life Prayer His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrives at Sarnath Bodh Gaya, January 20, 2003: The 28th Kalachakra puja came to an end this morning with a long life puja for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.His Holiness conferred a long life empowerment to the devotees. more

Emergency Appeal for Blankets. Dear Friend and Supporter, Greetings from Bodhgaya. Northern India, and Bihar in particular has been hit by an unprecented cold wave with record cold temperatures. Gaya town has recorded a low of 2.4 degree C, and it is just above freezing in the Villages. more

Four foreigners held in Bodhgaya Gaya, January 18. 2003 (PTI) - Four foreigners - a Tibetan and three Nepalese - have been taken into custody by the police in Bihar's Bodhgaya where Kalchakra puja, the most sacred of the rituals of Mahayana sect of Buddhism, is in progress amidst heightened security measures, Police said today. more

Poor facilities, pickpockets mar Buddhist meet
By Imran Khan, Indo-Asian News Service Patna, Saturday, January 18, 2003 (Source : IANS) -
Thousands of Buddhists from abroad have flocked to the birthplace of the Buddha for a festival, but many are clearly unhappy over the poor facilities and infrastructure. Several foreigners have complained about a shortage of good hotels, restaurants, marketplaces and Internet cafes in Bodh Gaya as well as reliable transport to travel to other parts of Bihar. more

Dharma versus Politics By Tsering Tsomo, Phayul Reporter Saturday, January 18, 2003 The countdown to the 28th Kalachakra ritual ceremony presently underway in Bodh Gaya started with a barrage of verbal threats and allegations of the lowliest kind, utterly baseless, stupidly brash and downright unimaginable against His Holiness the Dalai Lama by a section of neo-Buddhist monks claiming to be the ?worthy? followers of the great B.R.Ambedkar and Buddhism. more

Record 200,000 people attend Buddhist festival in India AFP January 17 2003 A record 200,000 people from across the globe are attending a Buddhist festival in eastern India, despite reports of death threats to exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, officials said today. The 10-day Kalachakra puja, a Tibetan tantric ritual, was opened on Sunday by the Dalai Lama in the Buddhist holy city of Bodhgaya in Bihar state. more

War on Iraq will disturb world peace: Dalai Lama
The Times of India THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2003 BOTH GAYA, Bihar: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Thursday described the threat of war against Iraq as dangerous to world peace and said that thrusting a war on that country would only lead to destruction. more

Dalai Lama against 'thrusting war' on Iraq Bodh Gaya (Bihar), (PTI), Jan 16: Describing war as an organised and legalised form of violence, Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, today disfavoured "thrusting" war on Iraq as it would only lead to destruction. more

Dalai Lama calls for peaceful solution in Iraq By ANGUS MCDONALD, Associated Press Writer GAYA, India, January 16, 2003 (AP) - The Dalai Lama said Thursday that weapons of mass destruction must be eliminated but a peaceful solution should be found to avoid war in Iraq. more

War on Iraq will disturb world peace: Dalai Lama The Times of India THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2003 BOTH GAYA, Bihar: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Thursday described the threat of war against Iraq as dangerous to world peace and said that thrusting a war on that country would only lead to destruction. more

No rule of law in China: Dalai Lama UNI Wednesday, January 15, 2003 Patna, January 14 - Expressing concern over the atrocities on the people of Tibet, Nobel laureate Dalai Lama has said "there is no rule of law in China. more

Dalai Lama uses Buddhist festival to promote Tibetan autonomy South China Morning Post Tuesday, January 14, 2003 AMRIT DHILLON in New Delhi and ASSOCIATED PRESS in Gaya, India
The Dalai Lama is using the massive Buddhist festival of Kalachakra in the Indian state of Bihar to call for greater Tibetan autonomy, while other Tibetans gathered at the event for their largest prayer ceremony of the year are campaigning for a boycott of Chinese products. more

Kalchakra puja begins in Bodh Gaya PTI [ SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2003 03:10:05 PM ] BODH GAYA: A section of neo-Buddhists sitting on a "fast-unto death" here protesting the alleged "pro-China" bias of Dalai Lama and 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley were taken into custody on Saturday night even as the 28th Kalchakra puja began here on Sunday amidst tight security arrangements. more

Dalai Lama calls for rejection of materialism at Buddhist gathering in eastern India By Abdul Qadir Gaya, India, Jan. 12: (AP) - Amid threats and allegations of spying and sacrilege, the Dalai Lama led Tibetan Buddhists' highest worship ceremony on Sunday, calling for the rejection of materialism, greed and violence. more

World peace possible through ahimsa: Dalai Lama BODH GAYA: SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2003 (PTI) - World peace can be attained only through Lord Buddha's path of "ahimsa", Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said on Sunday. "Lord Buddha's preaching of ahimsa (non-violence) is relevant today as several countries have developed weapons of mass destruction. more

Gaya: Fasting neo-Buddhists in custody Bodh Gaya, January 12, 2003 (PTI) - A section of neo-Buddhists sitting on a "fast-unto death" here protesting the alleged "pro-China" bias of Dalai Lama and 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley were taken into custody last night even as the 28th Kalchakra puja began here today amidst tight security arrangements. more

China’s changing, there’s hope for Tibetans: Dalai By Nirmala Ganapathy The Indian Express Monday, January 13, 2003 Bodh Gaya, January 12 - Even as the Dalai Lama spoke of world peace through ahimsa at the inaugural session of the nine-day Kalchakra Puja here, thousands of Tibetan refugees raised free-Tibet slogans outside. Around 20,000 Buddhists from Vietnam, Tibet, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal had assembled for the 28th Puja today. more

Dalai Lama opens Buddhist festival of thousands in India BODHGAYA, India, Jan 12 (AFP) - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday opened a highly-secure, 10-day Buddhist ceremony attended by 200,000 people. Security forces sealed off Bodhgaya -- a normally quiet town in eastern India where the Buddha attained enlightenment two and a half millennia ago -- and searched visitors to the Kalchakra festival who entered through 24 metal-detector gates. more

Kalachakra Puja begins with a message for world peace Bodh Gaya, January 13, 2003: The three-day preliminary teachings of the Kalachakra puja began yesterday in the afternoon at the Kalachakra Maidan in Bodh Gaya. Over a hundred thousand devotees from all over the world attended the teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which continued this afternoon. more

Preliminary teachings begins tomorrow Bodh Gaya, January 11, 2003: The three-day preliminary teachings of the Kalachakra puja by His Holiness the Dalai Lama begins tomorrow at one in the afternoon. His Holiness will teach on the 37 Practices of Bodhisattva and Lamp of the Path to Enlightenment. more

Hefty fee for seeing Buddha's ashes draws flak TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2003 01:14:01 AM ] Patna: The state government's decision to introduce an entrance fee of Rs 100 from January 11 for having a glimpse of the holy ashes of Lord Buddha at present kept in the Patna museum has evoked sharp reactions from the people. more

Buddhist monks threaten immolation (Rediff.com) Saturday, January 11, 2003 By Anand Mohan Sahay A group of Indian Buddhist monks have threatened to immolate themselves at Bodh Gaya in Bihar if the Dalai Lama does not mediate with them on their demands and not to hold his Kalchakra prayer on Sunday. All India Monks Association general secretary Bhadant Anand told rediff.com on Friday that they have set a deadline of 24 hours for the Dalai Lama to initiate a dialogue. more

Tibetans to expose 'real face' of China during Kalchakra Rediff.com Saturday, January 11, 2003
By Anand Mohan Sahay Tibetans are trying to expose the "real face" of China during the nine-day Kalchakra festival, which starts on January 11 in Bodh Gaya. more

Buddhist Festival All Set to Open in Bodh Gaya on Sunday Patna Daily Saturday, January 11, 2003
Bodh Gaya, January 11 - Bodh Gaya is all set for the opening of the Buddhist Festival of Kalachakra that officially commences on January 12 under the spiritual guidance and presence of the Tibetan leader-in-exile the Dalai Lama. more

Tibetans to propagate cause at Kalchakra festival By Imran Khan, Indo-Asian News Service Patna, Jan 11 (IANS): More than the religious aspect, Tibetans plan to utilise the annual Kalchakra festival here to propagate their cause and expose the "real" face of China to the world. more

Dalai Lama visits Buddhist monastries of foreign countries UNI Thursday, January 09, 2003 Bodh Gaya, January 8 - His Holiness The Dalai Lama today visited the Buddhist monastries of Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, China and Vietnam here today. more

Heavy police deployment made for Kalchakra
The Times of India Thursday, January 09, 2003
By ABDUL QADIR GAYA - Massive police deployment has been made for the forthcoming Kalchakra pooja and to ensure the safety of both the Dalai Lama and Karmapa, the two high risk Buddhist spiritual leaders now in Bodh Gaya for the performance of the complex rituals for the attainment of enlightenment of the participants of the mega prayers, the third to be held near the site of Buddha's enlightenment. more

Neo-Buddhists begin indefinite fast against the Dalai Lama PTI Thursday, January 09, 2003 BODH GAYA, January 9 - Barely three days before the sacred Kalchakra puja, a group of 12 neo-Buddhists today began a fast-unto-death near the Mahabodhi temple here against the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's alleged pro-China bias. more

Over 5000 Buddhists from Sikkim attend Kalachakra ceremony Gangtok, India, (PTI), Jan. 09: More than 5000 Buddhists from Sikkim have reached Bihar's Bodhgaya to attend the 'Kalachakra' ceremony to be conducted by spiritual leader the Dalai Lama from January 12. more

One Tibetan Arrested Attempting to Attack the Karmapa, Crowds of Foreign and National Devotees flock to puja Bodhgaya, Jan 7 (Dainik Jagran). [lots of Bodhgaya stories in the Dainik Jagran Gaya edition today. The gist of the main story is that while the Karmapa was leading a puja at the temple a deranged youth tried to throw stones at him and was arrested. There are also stories on the problems with keeping shoe wearing people out of the temple, the fast of the Ambedkarite Buddhists against the Tibetan practice of wearing shoes in the temple compound, the arrival of 80 thousand devotees for the Kalacakra puja, the arrest of the Karmapa's security guard and a Chinese women in suspicious circumstances and the rituals being celebrated for world peace by the Karmapa. I hope to make some translations soon...]

Two 'spies' held before Dalai Lama visit Bodhgaya, Jan 7 (Sify News). A Tibetan security guard and a Chinese woman were detained here by police on suspicion of spying, hours before Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was due to arrive, police said Tuesday. But the two were later released after the pair insisted they were a couple. link to full story See also another story on Sify that includes "A few thousand foreign tourists have already arrived in the Buddhist holy city, which has been turned into a fortress for the occasion. "At different entry points of the town, 24 metal detector gates have been planted, 15 of them are around the place where the prayers will take place," an official said. " link to story

Preparation for the Kalachakra Pooja nears Completion (from the Tibet Information List) Bodh Gaya, January 3, 2003: Preparation for the 28th Kalachakra Initiation Ceremony is underway with complete devotion and determination. The Secretary of Department of Religion and Culture, Mr. Thupten Tashi, who has been stationed in Bodh Gaya with his staff members for more than a month, led a team of members, including Mr. Ngodup Dhongchung, Secretary of Department of Security, Mr. Sonam N. Dagpo, Additional Secretary of the Department of Information & International Relations, and Mr. Chonjor Palden, Additional Secretary of Department of Health, on a inspection tour of all the sites of the programme venue and took note of the final touches to be given to all the arrangements to be made for this nine-day grand Kalachakra Initiation ceremony beginning from January 12 in Bodh Gaya. full story including details of arrangements in Bodhgaya for pilgrims

Security concerns over Dalai Lama visit to Bihar Bodhgaya, Jan 2 (Sify News). A senior police official in Bihar voiced concern over the safety of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama with Indian Buddhists stepping up their protests against his visit to the state next week.
The Dalai Lama is expected to arrive in the town of Bodhgaya in eastern Bihar on Tuesday to participate in the prestigious Kalchakra Puja Buddhist festival, which begins on January 11.
"The Dalai Lama has been provided Z-plus security because of the security threat he carries. The local tension is certainly a matter of extra concern," said a top police official in Bodhgaya.
Another Tibetan spiritual leader, Karmapa Urgen Thinley Dorji, arrives on Sunday. Indian Buddhists, who are converts from Hinduism, have been campaigning against the two leaders. link to full story