Pilgrim traffic resumes to Bodh Gaya
View(s):Travel agents in Colombo last Wednesday resumed issuing tickets for travel to Bodh Gaya after a 48-hour suspension since the July 7th attack on the Mahabodhi Temple in the Bihar state of India.
Travel Agents Association President Saman Premakumara told the Business Times that they had resumed issuing tickets for pilgrim traffic to Bodh Gaya after local authorities said it was safe to travel to the site.
The Sri Lankan High Commission in Delhi on Thursday informed Sri Lankans that travel to the Mahabodhi Temple could resume for pilgrim traffic “having consulted all concerned.”
It was noted that “there has been no damage to the sacred Bodhi tree, the structure of the shrine and premises or to sacred objects as a result of the blasts, and no Sri Lankans have been hurt.”
The Mahabodhi Temple was open to the public and the temple management committee together with the Indian government has established a “security system” ensuring the safety and security of pilgrims, the statement said.
The Sri Lankan High Commission in India on Sunday had advised against all travel to Bodh Gaya for a week but on Thursday issued the green light for pilgrim traffic.
Initially following the suspension agents believed that traffic to the sacred site would be affected during the August season due to the adverse development lately.
Local pilgrims faced a number of issues in travelling to Bodh Gaya since early this year when a spate of attacks on Sri Lankans were carried out when travelling via Chennai due to which they were compelled to divert travel via New Delhi, Bangalore and other locations, it was stated.
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