Bhubaneswar: A consecration ceremony for the installation of a new idol of Lord Buddha was held at the Mahabodhi Society of India’s Bhubaneswar centre on Wednesday.
General Secretary of Mahabodhi Society of India, Sewali Thero and other monks with many members of the Society placed the statue in the new pedestal in a small ceremony held under the Holy Bodhi tree, amidst the chanting of hymns
President of the Mahabodhi Society of India’s Odisha Centre, Dr. Bimalendu Mohanty, Secretary Dr. Sourendra Mohapatro and national Vice President Arya Kumar Jnanendra along with other members were present on the occasion.
The 63 year old Bodhi tree is a direct descendant of the original Bodhi tree at Gaya, under which Gautam Buddha had attained enlightenment. A seedling of the original Bodhi tree, which was planted in 288 BCE at Bodh Gaya, was taken to Sri Lanka by Emperor Ashoka’s daughter princess Sanghamitra in the third century BC and planted at Anuradhapura. On May 13, 1957, a seedling obtained from Sri Lanka was planted in the premises by the then Prime Minister of Myanmar U Nu.
Last year, Cyclone Fani had virtually ripped off the Bodhi tree. It could not withstand the ravage and was uprooted, damaging the multitude of statues surrounding the base.
