In a landmark moment for Buddhist heritage and inter-community collaboration, seventeen Buddhist organizations from across India have come together for the first time to collectively organize the 20^th Annual International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar. The event, held annually since 2006, will take place from 2–13 December 2025, followed by the traditional commemorative walk from Jethian Valley to the bamboo grove of Venuvana in Rajgir.

This historic unity marks a significant milestone in the event’s evolution, which has been led for two decades by Ms. Wangmo Dixey, Founder and Executive Director of the Light of Buddha Dharma Foundation International (LBDFI–USA). Speaking at a press conference held by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Ms. Dixey highlighted the importance of honouring the ancient Pali tradition through collective recitation of the Tipitaka.

“We are honoured with the recognition of Pali as a classical language by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hopeful that more people from India will join this year’s recitation,” she said. She added that bringing the sound of the Dharma back to the sacred motherland of Buddha was a profound privilege, made possible by the support of Indian and international Sangha members and lay devotees.

The annual ceremony is the largest Theravada Buddhist gathering of its kind, attracting thousands of monks and devotees from Southeast Asian nations. This year, over 15,000 Indian monks and laypeople are expected to attend, along with international participants from the US, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Around 1,000 volunteers will support the event’s operations.

The opening ceremony on December 2 will be graced by Shri Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, as Chief Guest, with Shri Chawana Mein as Guest of Honour.

On December 6,  Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju will be the Chief Guest, and on December 12, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari will preside over the closing ceremony. Several other dignitaries are also expected to participate.

The core committee leading this year’s organization, the International Tipitaka Chanting Committee (ITCC) of India, is headed by Most Venerable Sanghasena Mahathero of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Ladakh. The 12-day festival is being supported by numerous Buddhist organizations, including the Mahabodhi Society of Bangalore. The IBC will sponsor a cultural group to perform during the opening day.

Venerable Sanghasena praised the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in promoting Buddhist heritage worldwide, mentioning the global exposition of sacred Buddha relics from India. “India has been the Vishwa Guru in the past because we had Buddha. We are reclaiming that legacy through peace, compassion, and non-violence,” he said.

IBC Director General Mr. Abhijit Halder emphasized the spiritual power of collective chanting, calling it a practice that purifies the mind, instills discipline, and elevates the environment to an ethereal experience.

The December 2 opening will feature a grand Buddhist procession at 8:00 am, followed by ten days of chanting from the Pali Canon under the Bodhi Tree, evening Dhamma talks in Hindi and English, and cultural performances. A 30,000 sq. ft. food tent on the Kalachakra grounds will serve meals to all attendees. Each participating country will offer dana to senior international monks on designated days.

On December 13, devotees will take part in a historical walk from Jethian Valley to Venuvana in Rajgir, with over 1,000 participants expected.

This year’s program will also include an art gallery, Q&A sessions with Dhamma teachers, and cultural showcases by artists from India and abroad. A special highlight is the consecration and donation of 220 four-foot golden Buddha statues, handcrafted in Odisha, to communities across India—symbolizing a renewed spiritual awakening and the strengthening of Buddha Dhamma in its sacred homeland.

The Tipitaka, containing the teachings of the Buddha, remains one of the world’s most revered spiritual, literary, and philosophical treasures—representing the intellectual and cultural essence of ancient India

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

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