The ceremony began on December 14 and would continue till December 22 at Bodhgaya.

The ceremony was presided over by the 17th Karmapa Lama, Thinley Dorjee, who recited verses from the Holy Scripture to the gathered monks.

“Monks from countries like Nepal, Bhutan and the rest of the world come to participate in this religious ceremony. It is held every year and it is important for everyone to participate in it and it is held in a big way. Every year we gather here and hold this ceremony hoping to achieve something good for all. The main objective of holding this ceremony is to invoke world peace on an individual level by each participant,” said Gempo Lama, a Buddhist monk.

The Kagyu Monlam is an annual prayer ceremony held at the Grand Stupa under the Mahabodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment. Monks and nuns coming from Kagyu monasteries located in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tibet be a part of the ceremony along with devotees from around the world.