Patna, Jan. 30: Kalchakra Ground will again be abuzz with activities, barely a month after the 32nd Kalchakra Puja. On February 3, chief minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the three-day Bodh Mahotsav on the grounds.

The three-day event will be held to celebrate the 2,600th year of Gautam Buddha’s enlightenment in Bodhgaya.

Tourism minister Sunil Kumar “Pintu” told The Telegraph: “The Bodh Mahotsav will be inaugurated by Nitish Kumar on February 3. For the first time, artistes from Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar will perform at the mahotsav. Artistes from China and Japan have also been invited.”

D.K. Shrivastav, the director of the tourism department, said: “Artistes from Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Thailand will perform their traditional dances at the cultural evening on the inaugural day. On the second day, folk artistes from the state will perform. The concluding day has been dedicated to performances from folk artistes from across the country, including the Northeast, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Rajasthan and Odisha. Padma Shri Tijanbai will also perform at the festival.”

Shrivastav added that the Kalchakra Ground has been fixed as the venue for this year’s Bodh Mahotsav.

Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) member secretary Nangzey Dorjee said: “Monks of Tharavadan and Mahayan sects will chant in the presence of the chief minister during the inaugural ceremony. The chants would be followed by the symbolic rope offering to the senior monks. A discussion on “Buddhism and its relevance in 21st century” will be held on February 4. A peace march that will originate from the 80-feet Buddha statue, around 1km from Mahabodhi Mahavihara, will be taken out on the morning of February 5. The march will culminate at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara and will be followed by inter-religious prayers under the Mahabodhi tree.”

The tourism department organises the festival in Bodhgaya every year in co-ordination with the Gaya district administration and the BTMC.