A large demonstration will take place in Bangalore’s Freedom Park on 6 January as members of the Mission Mahabodhi Mahavihara Mukti Andolana press for the immediate repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, and the full transfer of administration of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara to the Buddhist community.
Speaking at a press conference in Yadgir, movement leader Mareppa Bukkal said the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya, the sacred site associated with the Buddha’s enlightenment, has been placed under control of non‑Buddhist authorities through what he described as an unconstitutional law. He said the community would submit a petition to the state governor following the protest in Bangalore.
Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi administration at centre of demands
Organisers argue that the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, deprives Buddhists of their traditional right to manage the Mahabodhi Mahavihara and that this constitutes an injustice to the Buddhist community. The protest is part of a wider campaign that organisers say dates back to before independence and has not yet received satisfactory legal redress.
The petition to the governor will call for several concrete measures: repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949; immediate handover of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara administration to Buddhist authorities; restitution of land encroached within the Bodh Gaya precinct; and the establishment of a fully empowered development authority for the site.
Further demands include the formation of a Karnataka Buddhist Development Corporation to support Buddhist institutions, designation of Buddha Jayanti as a public holiday, allocation of land and basic infrastructure for vihāras, and a special programme to protect and preserve Ashokan inscriptions within the site.
At the press meeting, several Dalit and Buddhist leaders attended, including Venkatesh Hosamani, Naganna Kalladevanahalli, Sharanu Natekar, Rahul Hulimani and Dr Bhaghvant Anwar. The organisers also referenced a national call to action announced by the Desha Bikkhu Mahasangha for 12 February 2026 under the banner “Delhi Chalo — Mission Mahabodhi Mahavihara Mukti”.
Campaigners frame their case in constitutional terms, invoking Articles 13, 25, 26 and 29 to assert that religious freedoms and community rights must be upheld. They say the current arrangement not only affects religious administration but also hampers preservation and development of a site that holds global significance for Buddhists.
The movement’s leaders described the forthcoming protest as peaceful and lawful, intended to draw public attention and urge political authorities to act. They said their grievances focus on administrative control and heritage protection rather than confrontation.
Background observers note that management of religious sites often involves complex legal and administrative arrangements, balancing heritage conservation, community rights and governance. The demand to repeal a nearly eight‑decade‑old law brings these tensions into the public sphere and is likely to prompt legal and political debate in the months ahead.
Contact details and further statements from the Mission Mahabodhi Mahavihara Mukti Andolana were not immediately available. The group has, however, pledged to continue its campaign nationally if the issues are not addressed.
Key Takeaways:
- Activists will hold a mass protest in Bangalore on Jan 6 seeking repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act 1949 and transfer of the Bodh Gaya Mahabodhi administration to the Buddhist community.
- Organisers say the current Act denies Buddhists their rightful management of the sacred Mahabodhi Mahavihara and violates religious rights protected under Articles 13, 25, 26 and 29.
- Demands include restoration of encroached land, creation of a full development authority, establishment of a Karnataka Buddhist Development Corporation, and protective measures for Ashokan inscriptions.
