The 20th International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony was held at the sacred Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar, from 2 to 13 December. Organised as part of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee legacy commemoration initiatives marking his 125th birth anniversary, the programme celebrated India’s cultural, civilisational, and spiritual leadership. The event was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The 2025 edition was led by the International Tipitaka Chanting Committee (ITCC) of India, chaired by Most Venerable Sanghasena Mahathero of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Ladakh, further strengthening the global initiative founded by Ms Wangmo Dixey, Founder and Executive Director of Light of Buddha Dharma Foundation International (LBDFI–USA).
The opening ceremony was graced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Chowna Mein, as the Guest of Honour. The sixth day, on 6 December, was presided over by Hon’ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, while the closing ceremony was led by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari. The programme witnessed distinguished participation from national and international dignitaries and revered members of the Sangha.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the consecration and donation of 220 four-foot golden Buddha statues, masterfully handcrafted in Odisha, dedicated to Buddhist communities across India as a symbol of spiritual renewal and the strengthening of Buddha Dhamma in its sacred land of origin. Recognised as the largest Theravada Buddhist gathering of its kind, the event drew extensive participation from Southeast Asian countries, global Buddhist communities, and a significant number of Indian monks and devotees.
The ceremony marked a historic milestone as seventeen Buddhist organisations from across India collectively hosted the event for the first time, honouring the ancient Pali tradition through the collective recitation of the Tipitaka. The Tipitaka, preserving the original teachings of Lord Buddha, continues to serve as a timeless repository of spiritual philosophy and literary heritage, reflecting the intellectual and cultural essence of ancient India.
