Buddhist Conclave to promote, package pilgrimage sites

New Delhi: To showcase the beauty of Buddhist heritage in India, the 4th international Buddhist Conclave will be held in Bodhgaya and Sarnath from Sep 26, the Ministry of Tourism said Wednesday.

The ministry has collaborated with the state governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for this initiative to showcase India's commitment as "the land of origin of Buddhism and to improve the experience of pilgrims as well as tourists wishing to savour the essence of Buddhist heritage at the Buddhist sites of the country".

The event will be held Sep 26-28.

"It will give the participants an opportunity to promote, package and sell pilgrimage itineraries of the Buddhist sites in the country to overseas visitors," said an official statement.

According to the officials, international Buddhist conclaves have earlier been organised in New Delhi and Bodhgaya (February 2004); Nalanda and Bodhgaya (February 2010) and Varanasi and Bodhgaya (September 2012).

"The conclave will include presentations, panel discussion, and business-to-business meetings between the international and domestic tour operators," said the statement.

"An exhibition highlighting the Buddhist attractions in India would also be on view," it also said.

State governments will set up booths at the conference venue for interacting with the international delegates.

In addition to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana and West Bengal will also be participating in the conclave.