The Mahabodhi Mahavihara at Bodhgaya will join landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Golden Gate at San Francisco to save power for an hour 
on Saturday. 

In fact, the entire state is joining the global lights-off event - Earth Hour - when a billion people in over 7,000 cities in 162 countries across the globe switch off their non-essential electrical appliances between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. 
This is the first time since the annual lights-off event started in Sydney in 2007 that the energy department has taken up the cause and is running a campaign to persuade residents to switch off unnecessary and extra electrical equipment during Earth Hour to conserve energy and environment. 

Energy secretary Pratyaya Amrit claimed Patna would be able to save up to 100MW of energy from the total supply of 550MW to the city, if residents actively participate in this movement. State power holding and distribution companies would also switch off all non-essential lights in their offices and other establishments.

“For the first time, the energy department has also decided to run this campaign in Patna. Accordingly, we are using various media, including hoardings, newspaper and radio advertisement among others, to urge more and more people to join the rest of the world in this movement tomorrow (Saturday) by switching off their non-essential electrical appliances from 8.30pm to 9.30pm,” said Amrit.

On ways suggested for spending the Earth Hour, the energy department secretary said: 'We are not asking people to switch off all lights in their houses. All family members should gather in one room, where the light and fan or air-conditioner is switched on. As families don't get much time these days to interact with each other, they can use the Earth Hour to sit together and talk to each other.” 

The statement on the Earth Hour portal states that over 1,200 landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco would turn off their lights during Earth Hour. Close to 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Acropolis in Athens and Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, are also scheduled to go dark. 
(See graphic) 

Gaya district magistrate and ex officio chairman of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee Sanjay Kumar Agrawal said lights at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara would also be switched off during Earth Hour. 
Environment experts hailed the enthusiasm of the government and individuals to take part in the event.