NDTV reports that a cold wave gripped North India this week, extending even to Bodhgaya. Temperatures are 7-10 degrees below normal. In Bihar, the Indian state where Bodhgaya is located, over 60 cold-related deaths have been reported.

The Agence France Presse noted that the cold could affect attendees at the Kalachakra, noting that "In Gaya district, some 135 km south of Patna, the mercury fell to 2.4 degrees Celsius just as some 200,000 Buddhists began the annual Kalchakra Puja pilgrimage presided over by Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama." However, most concern is for the poor in the state who cannot afford to protect themselves from the elements for extended periods.

The Associated Press explains that the cold weather wave is spread over thousands of miles, and has hit Bangladesh and India the hardest. "Temperatures in the 30s [Farenheiht] have proved deadly in South Asia, where millions of people live without heat, electricity and warm clothing, often sleeping on hard ground. Wrapped in old rags and blankets, poor people in India and Bangladesh huddled around bonfires lit at street corners to keep themselves warm." New York Times - AP

The Patna Daily reports that "The westerly wind, or "pachhia," as it is widely referred to, continued to freeze the human bones through out the state with no chance of any let up soon, the meteorologists in Patna said. Patna, along with Gaya, recorded the lowest temperature on Thursday in many years when the temperature at these two places dipped to 2.4° Celsius (36.3° Fahrenheit) sending people indoors while also forcing many small businesses to down their shutters. . . .In the meantime, the Rabri government issued directives to the district administrations to ensure blankets are given to all the poor people in the state.

Outlook/PTI summarized the conditions in Bihar as of Friday: "Icy westerly winds and severe cold claimed 15 more lives in the state since Thursday taking the the death toll to 63 and paralysed normal life across Bihar. Fifteen more deaths were reported from across the state with Sitamarhi accounting for five, Gaya-four, West Champaran- three, Madhubani-two and Patna-one, official sources said here today. The state capital recorded a minimum temperature of 4.5 degree celsius while the Buddhist pilgrim centre of Gaya experienced the minimum temperature of 4.3 degree celsius, meteorological dept said. Both Gaya and Patna had yesterday experienced the lowest temperature of the decade with the mercury dipping to 2.4 degree celsius."

Although not directly related to the Kalachakra security, on January 10 "The state administration has sought the help of army following the desecration of two religious idols in a Gaya temple that led to a riot-like situation on Friday with angry crowd taking the streets demanding immediate arrests of the culprits. As the news broke out, angry men burnt some shops, tires on the streets and pelted stones at the security officials. The police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. At least three people were reportedly injured in the melee prompting the district administration to alert the army in case situation got any worse, the Magadh range Divisional Commissioner M. C. Sirohi said. Patna Daily.

Gaya is 15 kilometers from the Kalachakra ceremonies, sparking mob violence. The Gaya police commissioner responded by calling in Indian army support. "Anti-riot Vajra vehicles" and troops from Patna were called in to help in case the violence spread further. The incident was a reprise of a similar one on December 28, when "miscreants damaged a few idols at Ramshila under Kotwali police station. . . . Mobs took to streets, indulged in arson and stoned policemen." PTI

The Gulf Daily News, an outlet in Bahrain, indicated that the tension was related to Hindu-Moslem strife in India. "Police in an eastern Indian city dispersed crowds of angry Hindus who were chanting slogans yesterday against Muslims whom they blamed for vandalism to statues of Hindu gods. State officials said they would seek the army's help if roving mobs in Gaya city in Bihar state began to target Muslims, after the small statues were found broken." The outlet also alluded to Hindu-Buddhist tensions regarding governance of the Mahabodhi Temple Complex.

The violence seems to have dissipated quickly, however, as PTI reported that "Normalcy was restored today in the pilgrim city of Gaya which witnessed large scale arson and stone throwing following reports of damage to portraits of two gods late Friday night, official sources said here. There is complete calm and normalcy, all shops are open and traffic is normal, Gaya District Magistrate Brajesh Mehrotra told PTI, adding 'the situation is fully under control now.'" Outlook

The security problems in Gaya increased concerns for security at the Kalachakra ceremony a few kilometers down the road from Gaya, where there is already an extensive police deployment to protect Their Holinesses the Dalai Lama (currently in Bodhgaya) and the Karmapa (the latter is scheduled to arrive in Bodhgaya in a few days.)

His Holiness Karmapa arrived on January 8, 2002 in Sarnath, where the Buddha gave his first teachings, from Bodhgaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Kagyu Office. Both places are considered one of the four most holy sites in Buddhism, with Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace, and Kushinagar, where the Buddha entered into Nirvana. While in Bodhgaya, the Karmapa presided over the final two days of the weeklong Kagyu Monlam ceremony. While in Bodhgaya, His Holiness the Gyalwang Karmapa and His Holiness the Dalai Lama met together at the Mahabodhi Temple complex to jointly close the Kagyu Monlam service. The Dalai Lama is scheduled to confer the Kalachakra empowerment in Bodhgaya next week. The Karmapa is scheduled to rejoin the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya next week for the main Kalachakra ceremony. This ceremony was originally scheduled for last January, but was postponed due the Dalai Lama's unexpected illness (see Karmapa News Jan 24, 2002).

Prajnana Bhattarcharya of the Associated Press, in an article picked up by various news outlets (see selected references in margin), describes His Holiness' arrival in Sarnath as follows: "Hundreds of monks and followers gathered Wednesday to welcome the 17-year-old Tibetan high lama called the Karmapa on his arrival in this northern Indian town of Buddhist ruins. Ugyen Thinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, will stay in Sarnath for a week before he proceeds to join the Dalai Lama at Kalachakra prayers in eastern India, the biggest annual gathering of Tibetans and other Buddhists. . . . Dressed in traditional robes, Dorje sat on an eight-foot throne in front of a gold and bronze statue of Buddha and blessed his followers and the monks."

His Holiness is staying at the Vajra Vidhya Institute in Sarnath, the monastery of his tutor Thrangu Rinpoche.

Bhattarcharya reports that His Holiness Karmapa arrival at the Kagyu Monlam ceremonies in Bodhgaya was "was delayed by a week after the Indian government hesitated over granting him permission to attend."

Meanwhile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama toured various monasteries in Bodhgaya today, in advance of his preliminary teachings scheduled to begin later this week. UNI

The AFP provides an indication of the level of jitters in security and reports about it at the Kagyu Monlam/Kalachakra by reporting on rumors of Chinese spies attending infiltrating the Karmapa's security branch. "Authorities have said they have received death threats against the Dalai Lama from Chinese militant organisations identified as Sugden and Norge, which have links with Nepal's Maoist rebels." The press is indicating that the authorities are particularly jumpy about the possibility of Chinese spies.

In a tongue-in-cheek article entitled "Spy who loves Karmapa aide," Tapas Chakraborty for the Telegraph (India) writes that the authorities have been accused of causing a security "faux pas" by "overenthusiastically" tracking a Taiwanese woman based accused of having a connection to mainland China, suspicions which were later found to be unfounded.

Angus McDonald of the Associated Press describes His Holiness Dalai Lama's arrival at the Kagyu Monlam: "The Dalai Lama arrived at the traditional site of the enlightenment of Buddha on Tuesday, braving threats to his health and safety to preside over the biggest annual gathering of Tibetans and other Buddhists. . . . Greeted by drum beats and dancers in a cold wind, the Dalai Lama prayed at Mahabodhi Temple, the most sacred of Buddhist shrines."

Noting that the event schedule for last year's was cancelled until this year, McDonald catalogues the "security threats as well as the health problems associated with a huge public event staged in India's poorest state, Bihar": 1) "Dalai Lama's advancing age and periodic bouts of ill health;" 2) "the site's proximity to Nepal, which is suffering an increasing Maoist insurgency"; 3) the demands by the Neo-Buddhists, which the AP indicates "reflects resentment among other Buddhist groups at the mess made by hundreds of thousands of Tibetan pilgrims at the sacred site."

Finally, espionage seems high on the list of concerns by the authorities: "The Karmapa is attending this year's Kalachakra but his arrival was delayed by a week after the Indian government hesitated over granting him permission to attend. There have been allegations recently that the Dalai Lama's entourage is riddled with Chinese spies."

Amidst very tight security, His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Bodhgaya on the 6th. The Dalai Lama attended the concluding session of the Kagyu Monlam. He joined His Holiness Karmapa under the Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, the famed location where Sakyamuni Buddha awakened to enlightenment. The Great Kagyu Monlam concluded on January 7th. Karmapa Office Website

His Holiness is to give the Kalachakra empowerment to the public in Bodhgaya, to attendees estimated between 80-500,000 persons. His Holiness' preliminary teachings for the Kalachakra begin on the 12th.

Security was very tight for both the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa at the Monlam. "Official sources said security of the two spiritual leaders has been tightened in view of terrorist threats from Nepal's Maoist rebels. The sacred Mahabodhi temple, the venue of the puja, has also been cordoned off, they said. Altogether 120 police officers, including DSPs, 165 armed policemen, 275 constables and 42 women constables, besides a platoon of mounted police and a sniffer dog squad have been pressed into service, the sources said. Police superintendent Ravindran Shankaran said night vision devices, metal detectors and wireless sets were also being used." PTI

Similarly, Reuters reported that the police in Bodhgaya taking steps to "ensure the security of His Holiness Dalai Lama and [HH} Karmapa," reporting that "Gaya district police chief Ravindran Shankaran said 4,000 policemen would deployed for the festival."

UNI originally reported that "Police said they picked up the youth when they found him throwing stones at the Karmapa who was proceeding to perform a religious rite at the Mahabodhi temple inside the Bodh Gaya complex here. However, prompt and timely action by alert securitymen prevented the youth from inflicting any harm on the religious leader, considered second in the hierarchy of Tibetan Lamas. The youth is apparently insane, police said." Some hours later, UNI reported that "Gaya District Magistrate Brajesh Mehoratra told UNI that the media reports of the attack by a person on the 17th Karmapa was 'totally baseless.'"

As the enormous limelight of hundreds of thousands of attendees for the Kagyu Monlam and Kalachakra, and the world press focuses on Bodhgaya, the small hamlet in India will inevitably experience numerous publicity campaigns. One of the traditional campaigns is the continuation this year of the shoegate campaign:

Outlook India reports that "The neo-Buddhists are observing indefinite fast near the Mahabodhi Temple, where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment, seeking cancellation of Kalachakra puja saying the temple would be 'defiled' as the participants would enter with shoes and chappals, Bhante Mahanam, an agitationist told reporters. Gaya District Magistrate Brajesh Mehrotra had rushed to the temple to persuade the agitators to end their protest. But they have so far refused to relent, official sources said."

His Holiness Karmapa, after a stay in Delhi on January 4th, proceeded on the 5th to Bodhgaya to preside over the Kagyu Monlam . On the 6th, he proffered the White Tara empowerment to the assembly. Karmapa Office Website

UNI reports that the "17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje, religious head of the Kayo cult arrived in Bodh Gaya yesterday to attend the Kayo Monlam Chenmo Puja. He was scheduled to begin the Puja but had to change his programme following threats to his life from some forces.

Security in the Maitreya project area, where the Karmapa is staying, had been beefed up and about 24 RAW and Intelligence officials deputed. Metal detectors had been installed at all the 15 entry points to the Puja spot. The district administration in Gaya has issued entry passes to the visitors."

Meanwhile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was in Patna, in preparation to come to Bodhgaya on the 6th.

A press release from the government of Tibet in exile, which is largely responsible for many of the logistics in hosting the extraordinary numbers expected for the Kalachakra, provides an idea of the enormity of the undertaking to host this important empowerment so sacred to millions of Buddhists around the world:

"Thousand of devotees and pilgrims, including monks and nuns, from all over India, Nepal, Bhutan and other countries have already arrived in Bodh Gaya
to attend this year's Kalachakra pooja. They make their presence felt while
circumambulating the Great Stupa in Bodh Gaya. Foreigners from many different countries have added to this number. The Department of Religion and Culture of Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamshala, India, which organises this Kalachakra pooja, expects many devotees more to arrive during the
next few days, and are well prepared to meet all the logistical arrangements to accommodate them during their stay in Bodh Gaya. The Department is grateful to the State Government of Bihar and the local administration of Gaya District for extending their full support and cooperation to meet the logistical needs of the devotees attending the Kalachakra pooja. It also expresses its appreciation to the local people for extending all possible assistance and cooperation to the organiser as well as the devotees arriving here.

Three tent camps have been set up for accommodating the devotees. Camp one is at the Rajpur Road opposite Burmese temple. Out of 400 tents in this camp, over 150 have already been occupied. Camp two with 300 tents are located behind the Archaeological Survey of India's Museum. Seventy tents from this camp have been reserved for the devotees from Tibet. Camp three is set up behind the Thai temple. All the camps are provided with running water, water pumps, electricity, toilets, and a small clinic by the local administration."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled this month to confer the Kalachakra Abhisheka to hundreds of thousands of devotees in Bodhgaya, India. The empowerment and related teachings and ceremonies is to take place between January 8 - 20. HH the Gyalwang Karmapa is scheduled join HH the Dalai Lama at the main Kalachakra ceremony later in January. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Karmapa were in Bodhgaya last year for the same reason, but the ceremonies were postponed due to the Dalai Lama's illness.

AFP reports that "Half-a-million Buddhists and international tourists from 50 countries are expected to participate in the 10-day Kalachakra Puja. The festival of Tibetan rituals is one of the largest gatherings of Buddhist monks and devotees." The numbers raise logistical and security concerns during the assembly. Before last year's Kalachakra commenced, there seemed to be a continuing litany of security issues arising. By comparison, this year's press reports about security issues have been almost nonexistent.

From December 31 through January 7, the Pal Nyammay Kagyupay Sangha Monlam Chenmo, "The Great Monlam Aspiration of the Glorious Unequaled Kagyu Sangha" is being held in Bodhgaya, India. This is an annual gathering for the Kagyu sangha in Bodhgaya. In "Buddhist Monks Pray for World Peace," Imran Khan of the Indo-Asian News Service for The Hindustan Times reports that "Hundreds of Buddhist monks from across the world have gathered at their religion's birthplace in eastern India for weeklong prayers for world peace that began Tuesday. "About 7,000 Buddhist monks, including 17 incarnate lamas, have congregated in Bihar's Bodh Gaya town for the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo prayer . . . Buddhists from Nepal, Bhutan, European countries, Latin American nations and from across India are taking part in the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo prayer." .

His Holiness Karmapa led the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo last year, and this year will also preside over the Monlam beginning January 5. Although His Holiness apparently sought to join the Monlam from the beginning, he was delayed from going to Bodhgaya due to security concerns. His Holiness is now slated to arrive the complete the Monlam from January 5 onward.

The Kagyu Monlam takes place at the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, underneath the famed tree under which Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment. The Kalachakra Empowerment is held in a special location prepared to handle the high numbers of people in attendance, known as the Kalachakra Maidan. The Gelug Monlam is slated to take place from January 8-11 at the Kalachakra Maidan. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled to arrive in Bodhgaya on January 8. Preliminary teachings for the Kalachakra commence January 11.

Understanding the role of Sikkim in the Indian polity is becoming increasingly important to understanding the government's actions, or lack thereof, on permitting the Karmapa to return to his ancestral Indian seat in Rumtek. Two recent articles providing a detailed backgrounder, and recent news, are of note in this area. The first is by Major General (retd) Ashok K Mehta, who analyzes the importance of Sikkim in the Indian polity, and reprises the history of Sikkim's annexation by India for Rediff.com in "The truth about Sikkim." He concludes: "Bordering north Bengal, Sikkim's strategic assets and vulnerabilities forced it to enter the rough and tumble of the Indian mainstream, though some well-wishers of Sikkim believe it needs to be protected from India itself. Sikkim was admitted to the Northeast Council in 1999 and is savouring its benefits. Today it is the country's most stable and secure frontline state, a model for social cohesion and security. It is the only border state without any palpable threat of insurgency or social disorder." This view is in contrast to some reports that trace New Delhi's hesitation to lack of confidence in Sikkim's stability.

Mehta argues that India could further cement the stability of Sikkim through three measures: 1) putting in a good highway connecting Calcutta to Bangkok (Sikkim is now connected only through a road from Siliguri which is not only narrow and winding, but subject to frequent closures due to avalanches), 2) opening the Nathu-la trade route with Lhasa, and 3) "The Sikkimese have one other wish --- the resolution of the stalemate over the succession of the 17th Karmapa and unlocking the padlock on the Rumtek monastery. This would be good for social harmony and tourism."

The issue of the trade route has very recently been broached by the Chinese. They have offered to open a trade post in Nathu-la has as a gesture of their wish to better relations with India. The Telegraph. Prime Minister Vajpayee is discussing a visit to China in 2003, the first such visit in a decade. Sikkim is one of the key issues of contention between China and India, and this political fact unfortunately clouds the way New Delhi views the Karmapa, and precludes it from giving sufficient weight to the spiritual importance of permitting His Holiness to return to his seat at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim.

A number of outlets have reported that the so-called "Bodh Gaya-based Ambedkarites, better known as neo-Buddhists have have stepped up the anti-Dalai Lama campaign and printed material is being distributed against the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile led by His Holiness of the "All-India Action" lobbying organization garnered more publicity from the attention being given to the Kalachakra by again demanding that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness Karmapa be deported from India. Apparently, a "neo-Buddhist" is an Indian Buddhist who has converted from Hinduism.

Claude Arpi has a nice piece in which he skewers the claims of the Ambedekarites for Rediff.com. Arpi concludes: "This vilification campaign raises a more important aspect of the Tibetan presence in India and their role in supporting India in its hours of difficulties. Not only have the Dalai Lama and his people never schemed against this nation, they have always been at the forefront of India's struggle for its integrity. It is a pity certain facts are not well known, if not completely ignored by the media and Indian public." He also goes into detail about the somewhat secret Indian military brigade manned by Tibetans in defense of Indian interests.

The smorgasbord of accusations leveled by the organization manages to satisfy almost all political blocks by simultaneously alleging that both the CIA and China are behind the Tibetan Buddhist movement. The organization also is famed for starting the shoegate incident two years ago.

It is unclear why the neo-Buddhist publicity campaign garners so much coverage by the Indian press, when the formulaic denunciations made by annually on the occasion of visits by Tibetan Buddhists to Bodhgaya seems not even to be taken too seriously by the neo-Buddhists themselves.

Abdul Qadir of the Times of India provides two perspectives on how prepared are Bodhgaya facilities for the influx of tourists slated to attend the Kalachakra. In an article about the Mahotsava, a Tourism-Ministry sponsored festival that is promoted to take advantage of the Kalachakra's attraction, Qadir writes "The Mahotsava menu, a crude mix of Bollywood style cultural show and ill-conceived exhibitions has, in the past years come in for criticism as, there appeared to be little in the Mahotsava to attract foreigners. If the menu mess was not enough, the services of the same Patna-based anchor have been requisitioned year after year. The anchor, known more for his proximity to the ruling party politicians and almost unabashed flattery of those in authority, has done little to bring life to the show. Through frequent indulgence in name dropping and stale repetition of his own cultural adventures, the anchor person, according to Shree Bhagwan Bhaskar, a well-known activist of the Magadh division, continues to hold on to the stage much to the boredom of the audience. This year too, the Mahotsava schedule is designed to coincide with the prayers."

The other major criticism leveled by the Times of India concerns the abysmal highway infrastructure in the Bodhgaya area, where many roads are almost impassable because of poor maintenance. Hardly able to handle normal traffic, they cannot be expected to survive the twenty-fold increase in January. "Though the Gaya-Patna road was declared a national highway about three years back, expansion and repair work are yet to begin and in the meanwhile potholes have developed in large stretches of road and big parts of it, particularly the Jehanabad-Nadaul and Tehta-Jehanabad stretches, have become almost non-motorable."

His Holiness the Karmapa is scheduled to attend the Kalachakra Empowerment to be given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, India, in January. This Kalachakra ceremony was originally scheduled for last year at this time, but was postponed due to illness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who left Bodhgaya and was briefly hospitalized in Mumbai. His Holiness has fully recovered, and plans for the Kalachakra are in full swing.

Abdul Qadir, who also reported last year on the event for the Times of India notes that the Kalachakra will coincide this year with an annual Buddhist festival sponsored by the Indian Ministry of Tourism, called the "Buddha Mahotsava." (A backgrounder on the Mahotsava festival is available below.) Bodhgaya is a very small town, and tourism is poorly financed and supported. The numbers of persons expected to attend the Kalachakra usually far exceeds the capacity of the town. Moreover, numerous foreigners, including VIPs, often attend the ceremony, making the support of basic amenities for visitors to the event a logistical challenge of the highest order for the authorities. In addition to this, Their Holiness's security needs are also very substantial.

As usual, the high-profile event provides a stage for a variety of protests. Like last year, the "All-India Action Group" described by the Times of India as "neo-Buddhists," and the voice behind the "shoe-gate" episode that so entranced Western readers, again threatened to disrupt the Kalachakra ceremony on the grounds that the Dalai Lama and Karmapa's were not sufficiently patriotic Indians.

Authorities this year seem to be damping down the publicity for the event, perhaps hoping in this way to make crowd control more workable. The coinciding of the Mahotsava, which is a federally sanctioned Buddhist festival, with the Kalachakra ceremony, may also help the local authorities meet the challenges of hosting the event. Apparently, the 1998 Kalachakra ceremony in Bodhgaya also coincided with the Mahotsava.

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are the Indian States which contains Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Sarnath and numerous other locations of special importance to Buddhists because of their historical connection to the Buddha's activities in the sixth century B.C. To promote religious and culture tourism, in 1998 the Indian federal government's ministry of tourism in collaboration with Bihar and Uttar Pradesh inaugurated an annual festival called the "Buddha Mahotsava." The Week. The event is perhaps the most important tourist event for the Gaya area supported by the government of Bihar. Subsequently, the Mahotsava plan was initiated in other Indian states.

Bodhgaya has special reason to celebrate this year, as it was in June declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. (More information on the UNESCO designation is below.)

The first Mahotsava 1998 closed with an address by Prime Minister Vajpayee at the close of the event, in which he affirmed that India's recent nuclear tests were for peaceful purposes of protecting Indian security, in the context of reminding the attendees that "the teachings of Lord Buddha, who extolled the values of friendship and pathos, were even more relevant in a world riven by strife and conflict." Tribune

The following year, in 1999, the national museum at Patna participated in the ceremony by taking in Buddhist relics as a part of the ceremony. Financial Express. The plan has also been employed in other areas of India with significant Buddhist populations, "as part of the programme drawn up by the Government of India to promote the emotional integration, especially in Himalayan states where the Buddhist population lives. The other states where this mahotsava is being organised are Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal." Tribune.