Gaya, Feb. 8: The tourist season is set to end in Bodhgaya with the last puja of the Buddhists on February 13.

The ongoing 11-day Ningma Monlam puja would conclude on February 13. It is the puja of Ningma sect of Tibetan Buddhists.

This season, the number of tourists has been less as compared to other years. Even during the 11-day Nigma Monlam, under the Mahabodhi tree, the turnout of the devotees has been low.

“Usually, more than 10,000 devotees visit the place during the festival. However, this year, the number is barely 5,000,” Mahabodhi Society of India (MSI) spokesperson A.H. Khan told The Telegraph today.

The administration here expects a boost to the tourism sector this season with the arrival of Sri Lankan Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne. He would arrive at Bodhgaya on February 16 to commemorate the completion of 2,600 years of Buddha’s attaining enlightenment.

Earlier, Kagyu Monlam puja of the Kagyue sect of Tibetan Buddhists was organised twice this season. One was led by Ogyen Trinley Dorjee while the other was led by Trinley Thai Dorjee in December last year and January respectively.

Ogyen and Trinley are the two claimants to the seat of 17th Karmapa of Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhists. Tibetan Buddhists organise the puja at Bodhgaya during tourist season that starts in October and comes to an end in February.

The Tibetan Buddhists belong to four sects — Kagyu, Nigma, Sakya and Gelugpa. Spiritual leader Dalai Lama belongs to Gelugpa sect. Dalai Lama leads the sacred Kalchakra Puja. Buddhists of Sakya sect organise Jonang Monlam Puja every year in Bodhgaya.

“Apart from this, the MSI also organises activities like exposition of relics of Buddha and his disciples Sariputta and Mahamonglana. The relics were kept at Jayashree Mahavihara — the temple constructed on MSI campus, Bodhgaya branch,” Khan said.

The Nigma puja is organised every year in the beginning of January.