After returning from Nepal, Prime Minister Modi prayed at a Buddhist temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered prayers at the Mahaparinirvana temple in Kushinagar district on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.

The Prime Minister returned from Lumbini, Nepal and reached the temple, which is said to be the last resting place of Gautama Buddha, where he attained Mahaparinirvana and is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists.

He offered a ‘chivar’ (cloth) to the reclining idol of Lord Buddha in the presence of the priests. He was also given a statue of Lord Buddha.

” Prayed at the Mahaparinirvana Stupa in Kushinagar. Our government is working hard to increase the infrastructure in Kushinagar so that more tourists and pilgrims can come here, “the Prime Minister later tweeted.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a new international airport at Kushinagar in October last year. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore, it is part of the government’s efforts to connect Buddhist shrines.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend a dinner at the residence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow where he will meet all the ministers of the state government.

In the morning, the Prime Minister arrived at Kushinagar Airport, where he was greeted by several MPs, MLAs and officials before leaving for Lumbini.

Modi, along with his Nepalese rival Sher Bahadur Deuba, laid the foundation stone of a technologically advanced India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Tradition in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.