Peace rally held in Gangtok urging repeal of Bodhgaya Temple Management Act of 1949

A peace rally was organized today, April 26 in Gangtok in support of a nationwide demand to repeal the Bodhgaya Temple Management Act of 1949. 

Spearheaded by the Sikkim Chapter of the All India Buddhist Forum, the rally called for the complete transfer of the management of the Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara in Bodhgaya, Bihar, to the Buddhist community in India.

The demonstration aligns with ongoing protests in Bodhgaya, where monks and activists have been staging a continuous dharna for over 60 days, advocating for exclusive Buddhist control over the sacred site. 

The rally emphasized the need to honor the religious sentiments of Buddhists by ensuring their rightful management of one of Buddhism's holiest shrines.

Organizers reiterated that the movement seeks to uphold the sanctity and cultural heritage of the Mahabodhi Temple, and called upon the government to respond to the longstanding demands of the Buddhist community.