Gaya's Mahabodhi temple to have illumination system

MTMC launches an ambitious plan to provide state of the art illumination system based on German technology, reports Anil Kumar.

The Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee (MTMC) has launched an ambitious plan to provide state of the art illumination system in and around the Mahabodhi Mahavihara.

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The plan will be funded by the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the MTMC and the India Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ITDCL) recently to carry out the plan at a cost of Rs 3.58 crore.

The brainchild of Dr Kalicharan Singh Yadav, MTMC member-secretary, the project is likely to be completed in the current fiscal, according to official reports.

The chief priest of the Mahavihara, Bhante Bodhipal, said, “The illumination system will be based on German technology that is the best in the world.”

The plan includes illumination in and around the Mahavihara to bring out the ambience during night hours, facilities for chanting Buddhist mantras throughout the complex round-the-clock and requisite security system (through CCTV and other electronic gadgets).

As per the agreement, the recurring maintenance cost, including electricity and diesel bills, would be borne by the MTMC.

The ITDC shall be the project management consultant. The Tourism Ministry will release the funds directly to the ITDC, New Delhi. Besides, the ITDC will complete the work using state of the art technology within a year. It will train MTMC employees for operating the system.

The MTMC member-secretary told the HT that, “Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni, during her visit to the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in April 2006, had okayed the plan and also agreed to provide fund for the purpose. Her active support and subsequent steps by the Bihar Government enabled us to realise our long-cherished dream.”