327 naval officers from 74 countries visit Mahabodhi temple

Gaya: As many as 327 naval officers and personnel from the navies of 74 countries visited the UNESCO world heritage site Mahabodhi Mahavihara on Friday.The visit was organised as part of the International Fleet Review (IFR) and Milan-26, a biennial maritime event hosted by the Indian Navy since 1995 in Visakhapatnam. The event is being held this time in Feb.Members of the delegation described the experience as spiritually enriching and memorable, saying it strengthened cultural bonds between India and the international maritime community.A press note issued by the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) said, “The delegation was guided through the Mahavihara complex and the sacred Bodhi (peepal) tree, where they were briefed about the life of Lord Buddha, and the global relevance of Buddhist teachings in promoting peace, compassion and co-existence.”BTMC member secretary Mahashweta Maharathi, Mahavihara chief monk Bhikkhu Chalinda, and caretaker monk Bhikkhu Dinanand welcomed the delegation with a ceremonial khada offering.