20th International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony in Bodhgaya, Bihar

The International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony (ITCC) organized by the Light Of Buddha Dharma Foundation International (LBDFI), in partnership with the IBC among others, for the last two decades is considered to be one of the largest international Buddhist events that brings together monastics and lay devotees from around the world. The 12-day ceremony from 2nd to 13th December, 2025 to be held in Bodhgaya, is expected to gather over 20,000 devotees.
The inauguration to this year’s chanting ceremony started off with the Chief Guest Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture, Govt of India, reading out a Special Message from Shri Narendra Modi, Honourable Prime Minister of India. The Honourable PM expressed that the pride and joy for this year’s ceremony is doubled as India is chosen to serve as the primary host country for organizing the ITCC for its 20th and 21st edition. In his words, “Buddha’s life connects individuals with other individuals and nations with other nations”. Recalling his visit to Thailand earlier this year, the Honourble PM stated that he was presented with the phonetic version of the Tipitaka in Pali. Realizing the spiritual, cultural and literary value of Pali Tipitaka and the worlds of the Buddha, it is for this reason that Pali has been declared as a Classical language by the Govt. of India.
Honouring the birthplace of the philosophy that transformed humanity, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that this ceremony is an opportunity to reflect and renew our faith. The Buddha’s awakening symbolizes opening of the mind to the truth. On preserving Buddhist heritage, he recalled Honourable PM’s mention of developing Bodhgaya as a spiritual capital of India. Moreover, under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, Buddhist heritage sites are being developed. This ceremony is a representation of great nations of Asia and the Buddhist world. He concluded that the Buddha Dhamma is an anchor of peace in a troubled world.

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