A delegation of politicians from Mongolia visited one of Buddhism's holiest temples in India on Friday 3 December.

One of the delegation has since tested positive for Covid-19, causing alarm amongst the authorities, who are now attempting to trace his contacts.

The delegation of 23 visited the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site marks the spot where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

The group was led by Chairman of State Great Khural, the parliament of Mongolia, Gombojav Zandanshatar.

The group included ministers, members of parliament, the Mongolian ambassador to India, and others.

They spent two days in the holy city, visiting sites related to Buddha, including the famous Dungeshwari hills where he meditated for seven years before attaining enlightenment.

A parliamentary delegation of 23 members from Mongolia will visit the Bodh Gaya temple in Bihar December 2nd. The delegation will be led by Chairman of State Great Khural of Mongolia Gombojav Zandanshatar. A number of ministers, members of the Mongolian Parliament, Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Mongolia-India Parliamentary group, Parliamentary Secretariat officials, officials from the security and service, along with the Mongolian Ambassador in India, shall be paying a visit to Bodh Gaya.

The delegation will land at the Bodh Gaya International Airport at around 3.30 pm 2nd December. From there, they shall head to Bodh Gaya and pay a visit to the Dungeshwari caves.

On December 3, the delegation will visit the Vishwa Dharohar Maha Bodhi Mandir, followed by the Mongolia Monastery and other Buddhist sites in Bodh Gaya. They will return to Delhi on Friday evening.

India is not only our spiritual neighbour, but we also have a spiritual relationship with it. Here culture and history connect us. India is a holy land where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Democracy, human rights and freedom are ours here. Connects the country with India. The Speaker of Mongolia's Parliament, Gombojav Jhandanshatar, said these things during the visit to the World Heritage Mahabodhi Temple. He said, India is the birthplace of Buddhism, so all Buddhists have strong faith in India.

He worshiped and had darshan of Lord Buddha in the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahabodhi temple along with all his delegation members. After the worship, all did spiritual practice under the sacred Bodhi tree.
After visiting the Mahabodhi Temple, he reached the Mahabodhi Society of India, where he saw the sacred ashes of Lord Buddha and his disciples.