Patna, Jan 6 : Hollywood star Richard Gere met the Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya in Bihar where the actor is attending a five-day long religious discourse on Buddhism by the Tibetan spiritual leader, an official at a Tibetan monastery said Wednesday.

A senior official associated with the Tibetan monastery in Bodh Gaya where the Dalai Lama is staying, said that Richard Gere is in Bodh Gaya to attend a religious discourse on Buddhism by the Tibetan spiritual leader.

"Richard Gere arrived in Bodh Gaya Monday evening. Gere is like any ordinary devotee of Dalai Lama. He may be busy in offering prayers, worshipping at the Mahabodhi temple and listening to religious discourses," another official at the Tibetan monastery said.

"Gere is in Bodh Gaya as a devotee of Dalai Lama and not as a Hollywood star. He met Dalai Lama," an official close to Dalai Lalma told IANS Wednesday.

Thousands of devotees, many of them foreigners, have gathered at Bodh Gaya, where the Dalai Lama is giving religious discourses for five days. Thousands of Tibetans have also gathered in Bodh Gaya. Dalai Lama commenced his teachings Tuesday.

The Dalai Lama reached Bodh Gaya, 110 km from here, on a chartered flight Monday.

The 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya is the holiest Buddhist shrine as it was built near the spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment.

Over 50,000 people from all over the world are expected to assemble at Bodh Gaya's Kalchakra Maidan to hear the discourses by the Dalai Lama. The discourses are being broadcast on FM radio channels in different languages including English and Hindi.

Richard Gere, known for his performances in "Pretty Woman", "Runaway Bride", and "An Officer and a Gentleman", is considered one of Dalai Lama's most high-profile followers.

He regularly visits Dharamsala -- the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Himachal Pradesh. (IANS)