Tourism Minister Jagmohan on Thursday asked the Bihar government to improve infrastructure facilities at important Buddhist sites to attract pilgrim tourists to the state.
He promised all help to the state government in overcoming fund shortages to improve infrastructural facilities to give a boost to pilgrimage tourism in the state.
He suggested to the state government to clear the Buddhist sites of beggars, considered a major nuisance for tourists.
Jagmohan was speaking after the dedication ceremony of the Mahabodhi temple, among the most sacred Buddhist shrines in the world, amid chants of shlokas by monks of the 'Ther' sect and attended by a gathering of buddhist scholars, monks and others.
He thanked the UNESCO for accepting his ministry's proposal for declaring the temple, near which Buddha attained enlightenment.
The minister said Buddha's teachings on 'ahmisa' (non-violence) and peace had far greater relevance in today's world divided by sectarian violence and hatred.
Nearly 200 delegates, including Buddhist scholars and monks from 25 countries, were flown in by two special flights from Delhi to Bodh Gaya to participate in the dedication ceremony.
Later, Bihar Tourism Minister Ashok Singh inaugurated the three-day sixth international 'Bauddha Mahotsava'.
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