Chief minister Nitish Kumar participated in the special prayer for earthquake victims on the occasion of 2559th Buddha Jayanti on Monday.

The prayer was organised by Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) under the sacred Bodhi Tree on the world heritage Mahabodhi Mahavihara campus.

The chief minister also laid the foundation stone for renovation of the outer railing of Mahavihara and released the BTMC yearly magazine Prajna.

The state road development corporation would carry out the renovation work at an estimated expense of Rs 6 crore.

District magistrate-cum-BTMC chairman Sanjay Kumar handed over a cheque of Rs 21 lakh from BTMC for the chief minister's relief fund meant for aid to earthquake victims.

Nitish in his brief address during the special prayers said: "A similar special prayer was organised under the Bodhi tree after the December 26, 2004, tsunami." He thanked the BTMC for organising the special prayer.

"A large number of people in Nepal and India have become victims of the earthquake. The state government is making best efforts to provide relief to the victims. The buildings that collapsed or were damaged during the earthquake would be re-built. We should learn from Japan where earthquake resistant buildings are built. Because of this, loss of property and lives gets minimised. Like Japan, people should get earthquake-resistant buildings constructed in Bihar too. The state has also suffered natural calamities and the government is providing grants to each victim. Education of disaster management will be imparted in schools too."

Buddha Jayanti is the thrice-blessed day when Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and also mahaparinirwana.

"Let us pray that people follow the path of non-violence and affection," he said.

A procession starting from the 80ft Buddha statue marked the beginning of the second day of the three-day Buddha Jayanti on Monday morning. Hundreds of Buddhist monks, devotees, tourists, representatives of Buddhist monasteries in Bodhgaya, locals and schoolchildren participated in the procession led by Gaya DM-cum-BTMC chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal. Artists from Sri Lanka presented a traditional dance in the procession.

An all-religion prayer was also organised on Monday in Gaya by a voluntary organisation Yuva Prayas for peace to the souls of earthquake victims and for early recovery of those injured in the natural calamity.