Bodh Gaya, Jan 28 : Thousands of Buddhist monks converged at Bodh Gaya on Tuesday to offer ''Nigma Monlam Puja'', a ritual of special prayers for universal peace.

Lama Buddhist monks from various countries participated in this 10-day event.

"For decades, the Nigma Monlam Puja has been organised during this particular time and attended by thousands of monks. The main purpose of this prayer is world peace. Buddhist Lama Monks from various countries are participating in this prayer," said Bhante P. Civili, a Buddhist monk, Bodh Gaya.

Bodhgaya, Dec 2: His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje led the prayers for world peace and liberation for all sentient beings here at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya.

The Tibetan spiritual leader called upon people to embrace peace and compassion in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks and offer prayers to stop any further violence.

"These are sad and terrible times. We must put our focus of our wisdom to really reflect and do our best to pray to wish that all of these will cease," said Karmapa.

Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Dec 1 : Hundreds of Buddhist monks and devotees from across the globe gathered in Bodh Gaya for an eleven-day long chanting prayer ceremony for world peace that started on Monday.

Monks and nuns in saffron robes chanted scriptures of the ''Tipitaka'', the collected teachings of Lord Buddha in the sacred Pali language, at Mahabodhi temple.

The monks prayed for the prosperity and well-being of all living creatures.

Bodhgaya, Nov 21: Thousands of Buddhists from across the world congregated at Bodh Gaya for Krodhi-Kali ceremony for world peace on Thursday.

Nuns and monks attired in the traditional Buddhist costumes played instruments made out of human bones to the accompaniment of special prayers.

Devotees said attending the ceremony gave them a lot of satisfaction.

"This is our second annual Krodhi-Kali ceremony. Last year also we had a similar event which went very successfully, and everybody of us satisfied and we went back to our country with full satisfaction," said Nangye, a Bhutanese monk.

Apart from India and Bhutan, a large number of monks from many South-Asian countries attended the ceremony.

Bodh Gaya, Nov. 9 : With the onset of winter, Bodh Gaya, the famous holy pilgrimage center of Buddhists, starts witnessing the arrival of a growing number tourists and pilgrims from different parts of the county and world. 

Not many may know but Bodhgaya is today not just known as an important Buddhist pilgrim center and an archeological site, but also for its various meditation courses offered by a number of institutes, in and around the town. 

Most of these courses are conducted in winters. Hence, the number of visitors keep swelling between October and February. 

Bodh Gaya, Nov 8 : Two Buddhist devotees from Thailand, on a visit to India, have taken -up monk-hood in Bodh Gaya on Saturday.

They were accompanied by hundreds of devotees who had come with them from Thailand.

The devotees took up monk-hood under the Bodhi Tree amid the chanting of sacred hymns.

Bante Achan Vichian, a Buddhist Monk said that if one takes up monk-hood he can lead a peaceful and successful life.