Monks pray before sanghdaan (food offering) at the office of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), on Guru Purnima in Bodhgaya on Monday. According to tradition, Guru Purnima is celebrated in honour of Lord Buddha who gave his first sermon on this day in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh. On Monday morning, monks from several countries, including Sri Lanka, Thailand and Bangladesh, assembled at the BTMC office on the premises of Mahabodhi Mahavihara for sanghdaan where the authorities offered them food. Later in the evening, the monks took out a candlelight procession. With Guru Purnima, the monks also started their varsha vassa (rainy season). During this period, which continues for at least two months, the monks retreat to their monasteries or to the Mahabodhi Mahavihara. They remain in one place to pray, believing that moving around can kill life — such as insects or plants. Picture by Suman