Devotees at the Kalchakra Ground and (below) a young monk enjoys a treat on the last day of the 32nd Kalchakra Puja in Bodhgaya on Tuesday. Pictures by Suman

Gaya, Jan. 10: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today requested the 14th Dalai Lama to organise an international event like Kalchakra Puja at Buddha Smriti Park in Patna. Nitish said the Buddhist religious programme would provide inspiration for creating an atmosphere of peace in the country and the world.

The 32nd Kalchakra Puja, which began on January 1, concluded at the Kalchakra Ground in Bodhgaya today.

Accepting the demand of his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Nabam Tuki, Nitish also announced to make available land in Bodhgaya for construction of a Dharamshala of Arunachal Pradesh to invite tourists to Bodhgaya.

The chief minister was speaking at the felicitation ceremony of the Dalai Lama, who was honoured with the Supreme Master of the Complete Teachings of the Buddha award.

The Dalai Lama exhorted a huge gathering of more than 50,000 people assembled in and around the ground to practise the teachings of Buddha in their lives. “You all had gathered here to participate in a religious event and not for sightseeing. After returning from here go through the religious text that would help transform your mind. It is important because it gives special feelings,” the Tibetan spiritual leader told the crowd.

He further laid emphasis on the importance of motherhood, which according to him, was greater than any religion. “The reason behind violence and hatred in certain parts of the world is because children there have not been imparted the training of love and compassion by their mothers,” the Dalai Lama said.

The spiritual leader’s book — Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World — was released.