Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Indian National Congress and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha along with Shri K.C. Venugopal, MP& General Secretary (Organization), AICC , paid a reverential visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple, in Bodhgaya this morning.
Upon his arrival at the sacred temple complex, Shri Kharge was accorded a traditional and heartfelt welcome. He was greeted with ceremonial ‘Khada’ scarves by Dr. Mahasweta Maharathi, Secretary of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), along with esteemed monks Bhikkhu Dr. Deenanand and Bhikkhu Dr. Manoj.
Accompanied by the monastic dignitaries, Shri Kharge offered prayers at the main shrine, the sanctum sanctorum housing the statue of Lord Buddha. The delegation then proceeded to the ancient and revered Bodhi Tree, under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. In a solemn and spiritually charged atmosphere, the Venerable Monks chanted sacred mantras, invoking blessings and peace for Shri Kharge.
Expressing his profound sentiments after the visit, Shri Kharge stated, “It is an immense spiritual privilege to visit this holiest of sites, where the message of peace, compassion, and enlightenment was realized. The serenity and divine energy of the Mahabodhi Temple are truly uplifting. I carry with me a sense of deep peace and renewed inspiration, and I sincerely wish to visit this sacred abode again in the near future.”
The visit underscored the deep-rooted cultural and spiritual values that form the bedrock of the nation’s heritage.