Buddhists hold Krodhi-Kali prayers in Bodh Gaya

Bodhgaya, Nov 21 : Thousands of Buddhists from across the world congregated at Bodh Gaya for Krodhi-Kali ceremony for world peace on Thursday.

Nuns and monks attired in the traditional Buddhist costumes played instruments made out of human bones to the accompaniment of special prayers.

Devotees said attending the ceremony gave them a lot of satisfaction.

"This is our second annual Krodhi-Kali ceremony. Last year also we had a similar event which went very successfully, and everybody of us satisfied and we went back to our country with full satisfaction," said Nangye, a Bhutanese monk.

Apart from India and Bhutan, a large number of monks from many South-Asianountries attended the ceremony.

"We have gathered here to pray for world peace and non-violence. Moreover, organizing and taking part in such a prayer in this holy place is more beneficial for all of us," said Kempo Longyang Sengye, another Bhutanese monk. Buddhist scriptures describe Bodh Gaya as the "Navel of the Earth", and 100,000 pilgrims and tourists visit every year, packing the town and its Mahabodhi Temple.

An ancient pipal tree or sacred fig grows at the back of the temple, said to be a descendent of the one Buddha sat under for three days and nights in the sixth century BC, before finding the answers he sought under a full moon.

ANI