Gaya, March 18: Over 50 Buddhist monks from India and 12 other countries assembled under the Bodhi tree today to extend their emotional support to the people of Japan, who are under threat of nuclear radiation following earthquakes and tsunami on March 11.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar joined the prayers under the Bodhi tree. Three different traditions of Buddhism — Japanese, Theravada and Mahayana — were followed in the prayers. Nitish, accompanied by human resource development department minister P.K. Shahi, arrived on the Mahabodhi Mahavihara campus at 3pm and stayed for nearly an hour.

After the prayers, Nitish expressed grief over the situation in Japan. He said earthquakes and the tsunami had caused extensive damage in the nuclear installations. “As a result several people had been affected,” said Nitish.

Earlier, Nitish lighted a lamp under the sacred Bodhi tree to begin the prayers. After the prayers silence was observed for a minute.

A representative of the Buddhist monastery, Bodhgaya Bhikkhu Pragyadeep handed over a memorandum to the chief minister demanding the re-installation of power connection at the monasteries. Nitish, however, did not extend any assurance.

Monastery representatives have been demanding the immediate re-installation of the power and a separate power tariff for the monasteries. Only then would the gates be opened for visitors.