Bodh Gaya to Shine in with Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony, Drawing Tourists from Southeast Asia

Published on November 22, 2025

In the region of Bodh Gaya, Bihar, where, according to legend, the Buddha reached spiritual enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, potential for international Buddhist tourism will be realised in December 2025. From 2 to 13 December, over 20,000 monks, nuns, and lay devotees from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, etc., will participate in the International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony. This event will further enhance Bodh Gaya’s position as a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site and forge deeper links between India and ASEAN.

This chant will be the recitation of The Tipitaka, which is the principal scripture of Buddhism. As a result of the anticipated attraction of Buddhist pilgrims, the event is likely to stimulate Bodh Gaya tourism and that of the neighbouring towns of Rajgir and Vaishali, which have rich Buddhist historical connections. The present Modi government has concentrated its cultural diplomacy for the ASEAN region on Buddhism, positioning Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as pilgrimage and tourist attraction base points for the world.

Bodh Gaya: A Global Buddhist Pilgrimage Destination

Bodh Gaya is one of the most important locations for Buddhists around the globe. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Mahabodhi Temple complex commemorates where Gautama Buddha became enlightened over 2500 years ago. For centuries, this site has served as a place for pilgrims to the Buddha to meditate, reflect, and engage in the journey of the Buddha.

Bodh Gaya receives thousands of Buddhist pilgrims every year from countries with prominent Buddhist traditions like Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka, to name a few. The International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony is poised to add to Bodh Gaya’s position as the spiritual core of Buddhism and will attract a large wave of pilgrims to the region to listen to these verses and engage in the ceremonial community activities of the event.

Also, the event pilgrims can have an economic impact on the region through the spiritual tourists and the local hospitality industry like hotels, restaurants, transportation, and retail. The event will bring global recognition to the region for the cultural and spiritual tourism and pilgrimage that Bod Gaya now offers.

Strengthening ASEAN Tourism Ties

India’s focus on Buddhist diplomacy with ASEAN is facilitating deeper cultural and tourism ties. The Bihar Foundation has participated in initiatives aimed at enhancing cultural and tourism exchange, for instance, the recent Food & Spirituality Show in Bangkok and the Thai travel operators’ familiarisation trip.  These initiatives seek to augment the linkage with Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries with India’s Buddhist heritage sites.

The tourism collaboration between India and ASEAN is likely to provide new opportunities for pilgrims and tourists to travel within India and ASEAN. The recently launched charter flight from Phnom Penh to Bodh Gaya facilitates travel for Cambodian pilgrims and tourists, as Bodh Gaya is an important site within the Buddhist tourism pilgrimage circuit.

There is also a growing interest among travellers from Southeast Asia to Bodh Gaya and other significant Buddhist sites in India, which will foster the intended cross-cultural and spiritual exchange from this partnership between India and ASEAN countries.

The Function of Cultural Tourism in the Economy

Bodh Gaya’s Buddhist tourism expands tourism potential in the state of Bihar and its neighbouring state, Uttar Pradesh, which also has several Buddhist heritage sites. As the region develops tourism related infrastructure and services, anticipated international pilgrimage and tourism will create employment in the hospitality, transit, and tourism industries.

Bodh Gaya’s tourism has influenced and is being influenced by the tourism promotion activities in the northeastern region of India. The promotion of spiritual tourism has the potential to spur the region’s eco-tourism endeavours, and its sustainable tourism practices, thereby conserving the region’s diverse heritage.

Enhancing Accessibility and Movement to the Sacred Sites of Pilgrimage

The direct flights and other transport arrangements between Bodh Gaya and the ASEAN member countries will attract a considerable number of tourists. Less cumbersome transit to Bihar’s Buddhist heritage will assist pilgrims and other tourists to the Buddhist significant locations of Rajgir and Vaishali.

In addition, travel agencies and tour operators throughout Southeast Asia will likely expand their offerings to include an integrated travel opportunity to India’s Buddhist Heritage Sites for those wanting to examine the faith’s ancient historical and spiritual roots.

The Impact and Benefits of Pilgrimage

The impact and benefits of pilgrimage tourism from Bodh Gaya will shape the spiritual tourism industry in India. The deepening relationship between India and the ASEAN nations will Further Open the floodgates of tourism to the region from nations all over the globe and also to India in particular.

The International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony and the International Bodh Gaya Festival, together with the expanding and improving infrastructure in Bodh Gaya, ensure that the town will continue to receive an ever-growing CELEBRATION OF PEOPLE who travel to from all over the world to adopt Bodh Gaya for their pilgrimage and and thus elevate Bodh Gaya to one of the most important modern-day spiritual and cultural hubs of the world.

Conclusion

Scheduled for December 2 to 13, 2025, the International Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony in Bodh Gaya will play a pivotal role in India’s tourism industry, attracting travellers and pilgrims from Southeast Asia and other regions. The collaboration of India and the ASEAN region deepens Buddhist diplomacy, encouraging cultural partnerships and the dissemination of the Buddhist heritage of India. With more infrastructure and tourism service developments, Bodh Gaya and other pilgrimage destinations in Bihar will remain popular and enhance the industry of tourism in India.