Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayake Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Sanchi Chetiyagiri Vihara and President of the Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Society, states that arrangements have been made to hold the annual Sanchi Mahabodhi Festival at the sacred Sanchi site in Madhya Pradesh, India, in a grand manner on November 28 and 29.
Ven. Banagala Nayake Thera told ‘Serenbona Media Network’ that this year marks the 74th Sanchi Mahabodhi Festival, and it has been reported that Buddhist devotees from many countries will participate. Ven. Banagala Nayake Thera also mentioned that following the recent enshrinement of the Relics of the Chief Disciples (Agra Savaka Dathu) from the Sanchi Chetiyagiri Vihara in Thailand, a large Buddhist delegation from Thailand will visit Sanchi this time to pay homage to the relics once again.
“Devotees from many countries to Sanchi this time”
Ven. Banagala Wimalatissa Thera, the Assistant Custodian of the Sanchi Chetiyagiri Vihara, stated that reports indicate devotees will also arrive from countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam for this year’s Sanchi Mahabodhi Festival.
A special discussion regarding the organizational arrangements for this year’s Sanchi Mahabodhi Festival was held in Bhopal under the leadership of Shri Rohit Sissoniya, the Collector (District Magistrate) of the Raisen District where Sanchi is located. Ven. Banagala Wimalatissa Thera and resident monk Pandit Udugama Tapassi Thera, along with Madhya Pradesh Department of Culture Director N.P. Namdev and representatives and officials from numerous public and private sector institutions—including the Raisen District police, security forces, health, medical, municipal, and transport sectors—participated in the discussion.
Expressing his views during the meeting, Collector Shri Rohit Sissoniya stated that for the convenience of both local and foreign devotees visiting Sanchi, a comprehensive scannable map indicating key locations around Sanchi—such as the hospital, parking lots, police outpost, hotels, and accommodations—will be established for the very first time this year.
Ven. Banagala Wimalatissa Thera added that artists from several states in India will present their creations at this year’s Sanchi Mahabodhi Festival cultural show, and dance and instrumental performers from Sri Lanka’s Karunadasa Olaboduwa Traditional Performing Arts Academy will also contribute their dance and traditional drumming performances to the show and relic exhibition events. Following the discussion, officials led by Collector Shri Rohit Sissoniya engaged in an observational tour of the sacred Sanchi site.
Ajith Weerasuriya
