By Craig Lewis
Lighting the Mahabodhi. Image courtesy of Siddartha’s Intent India
Siddartha’s Intent India, founded by the renowned Bhutanese lama, filmmaker, and author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, has offered a new update on its ambitious initiative to illuminate the sacred Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India, reporting that after achieving its full funding target earlier this year, the project is now 90 per cent complete, despite delays caused by pandemic-related lockdowns and restrictions.
The sacred endeavor, dubbed “Lighting the Mahabodhi,” undertaken with funding offered by Siddhartha’s Intent India and with support from Khyentse Foundation and Vana Foundation, is perhaps the most ambitious Buddhist light-offering ever. The objective is to overhaul the temple complex’s aged lighting and electrical systems to create what may be the largest and longest-lasting Buddhist light-offering in history. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche proposed the undertaking in 2015, and in 2017 received approval from the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) and the Gaya District Magistrate. The project was officially launched on 26 March last year.