Gaya: The three-day Buddha Jayanti celebrations marking Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and salvation started in Bodhgaya on Sunday amid unprecedented security.

Garima Malik, the outgoing Gaya senior superintendent of police, said: "Nearly 500 additional policemen, 70 of them being officers of different ranks have been deputed as a precautionary measure to ensure the event goes off smoothly. Anti-sabotage squad has been put on alert and two quick response teams of CRPF and Sashastra Seema Bal are present to respond to any crisis."

Bodhgaya witnessed serial explosions in July 2013 when nine low-intensity blasts were triggered in and around the World Heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara, one of the holiest Buddhist shrines. Earlier this year, live bombs were planted outside the Mahabodhi temple at a time the Dalai Lama was in town and a third bomb exploded outside the temple soon after the Buddhist leader finished his sermon.

Sources in the district administration said in the past years, local police personnel would manage the Buddha Jayanti celebrations but heavy reinforcements were put in place this time. The tight security arrangements have been made following inputs provided by different central and state agencies monitoring developments in Bodhgaya.

Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee secretary Nangzey Dorjee flagged off air conditioned buses between Bodhgaya and Gaya railway station to mark the start of Buddha Jayanti.

Nearly 10,000 Buddhists from across the country and the world have arrived to participate in the main event on Monday morning. Besides special prayers, devotees will take out a peace march from the Buddha statue in town to the main gate of Mahabodhi Mahavihara. The participating monks would be gifted maroon robes and Governor Satya Pal Malik will release a souvenir, Prajna 2018, on Monday.