A foreign delegate is welcomed with a lotus at the conclave in Bodhgaya on Friday. Picture by Suman

A three-day convention kicked off at Bodhgaya on Thursday to expand the focus of Buddhism-based tourism in Bihar from Southeast Asia, Europe and American countries.

The fourth edition of the Indian Buddhist Conclave witnessed the participation of 132 delegates from 32 countries, including Australia, Canada, US, Greece, Italy and others.

Union minister of state for tourism and culture (independent charge) Shripad Naik is slated to inaugurate the conclave at Kagyupa International Monlam Trust at Tergar monastery in the presence of chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday.

The delegates were taken for sightseeing in and around Bodhgaya, including the 80 feet Buddha Statue, Sujata Kutir and Mahabodhi Mahavihara. “The idea behind the conclave is to give an opportunity to the participants to interact, promote, package and sell pilgrimage itineraries of Buddhist sites in the country, to overseas visitors. The initial response from the delegates was good,” said Javed Iqbal Ansari, state minister of tourism.

Apart from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, officials of tourism departments in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana and Bengal would take part in the conclave.

Security measures

Tight security arrangements have been made in and around Bodhgaya for the delegates. Around 700 police officials and jawans have been deployed at different places in Bodhgaya. Gaya city superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar said a vehicle and ample security personnel had escorted 10 Volvo buses used by the delegates.