An Advanced Surveillance System(ASS) is being installed at Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi temple, Buddhism's holiest shrine, which was hit by serial bomb blasts last year, for enhanced security.

"Work is underway to install a world class sophisticated ASS at the temple for its security round the clock," chief priest of the temple Bhante Chalina said Friday.

Chalinda told IANS on telephone from Bodh Gaya, about 110 km from here, that it was decided to install ASS soon after the blasts but its installation was delayed. "Now, ASS will be installed within next few days," he said.


According to an official of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BMTC), ASS's installation will cost Rs.75 lakh that will be borne by the state government.

Officials said that in the temple premises, two 360 degree and 24 high definition(HD) cameras will be installed along with 30xzoom for monitoring purpose.

After the serial blasts on July 7 last year, the then chief minister Nitish Kumar demanded Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security for the 1600 year-old-temple. But CISF personnel are yet to be deployed at the shrine.

The previous United Progressive Alliance at the centre had approved paramilitary cover for which the state government would pay.

The decision was taken as the Mahabodhi temple is an international heritage site like the Taj Mahal, the then union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde had said.

But till date personnel from the Bihar police force have been deployed at the shrine.

Ten bombs had exploded in the premises of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya last year in which two monks were injured. -The New Indian Express.

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife Jetsun Pema visited the holy Buddhist site in Varanasi.

Wangchuck and his wife Pema planted a Bodhi sapling in the Sarnath Temple of Varanasi and subsequently held prayers along with the Buddhist monks.


"Bhutan king came here and visited the holy dome of Lord Buddha and he also offered prayers at the main temple. He worshipped the Bodhi tree," said a Buddhist monk Ashok Mitra.

Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema landed in India on Sunday and proceeded to pray at the Buddhist shrine of Mahabodhi Temple complex in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.

A group of delegates from Bhutan also accompanied the royal couple.

The deer park in Sarnath which is 13 kilometers from Varanasi is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.

Another Buddhist monk Bante Shivali said that people from across the world visit Sarnath which is spiritually significant.

"The history of Sarnath is significant since the period of Lord Buddha. For the past 2600 years, this place spiritually important for the entire world because Lord Buddha enlightened his first five disciples from Sarnath," said a monk Shivali.

Lord Buddha had gone from Bodh Gaya to Sarnath about five weeks after his enlightenment. (ANI)- Yahoo News.