The Vaishali Buddhist Conference will bring monks, scholars and cultural delegations from several countries to Bihar from December 11 to 13, with the state government directing departments to complete road, power, healthcare and visitor-support arrangements ahead of the event.
The three-day conference will be held at the Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum-cum-Memorial Stupa complex in Vaishali. It will be Bihar’s first International Buddhist Conference, according to the report by the Times of India.
Chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit and development commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh chaired a high-level inter-departmental meeting on Thursday to review preparations. The Vaishali district magistrate joined the meeting through video conference, while senior officials from the tourism, art and culture, and information and public relations departments also participated.
Amrit directed officials to ensure smooth road connectivity to the venue and surrounding areas, uninterrupted power supply and adequate healthcare arrangements. Medical teams and healthcare facilities will be deployed at key locations during the conference, making service readiness a central part of the preparations for the expected influx of visitors.
Organisers have received consent from Buddhist monks and spiritual leaders from Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Japan and South Korea. Fourteen international scholars are also expected to participate. The international presence is expected to bring visitors from India and abroad to Vaishali, placing additional demands on local transport, public services and visitor management.
To support the movement of delegates and tourists, round-the-clock assistance desks will be established at Patna airport and Patna Junction. A tent city is also being developed in Vaishali to accommodate delegates and visitors arriving from different parts of the country and overseas.
The programme will include discussions on Buddhist heritage, Tripitaka recitations, heritage walks and an exhibition of Bihar’s handicrafts. Cultural performances by artistes from Bihar and other parts of India, along with international artistes, are also planned.
Amrit said the conference would help strengthen Bihar’s position on the global Buddhist tourism and spirituality map. He directed the Vaishali administration and the departments concerned to complete preparations within the stipulated timeline so that arrangements for international guests and other visitors are ready before the conference begins.
