This is the moment Buddhist monks gathered in northern India to hold prayers for world peace.

Footage shows worshippers assembling with pilgrims at the sacred Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, on November 18 for the 8th Dzongsar Monlam Chenmo.

The festival was led by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche and Dudjom Yangsi Rinpoche, alongside senior sangha members. Together, they guided participants through ritual ceremonies and meditation sessions.

Organised biennially by the Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro Institute, the 10-day prayer festival ran from November 18 to 28.

First held in 2006, it has continued every two years at the site of the historical Buddha's enlightenment, preserving a tradition of collective spiritual practice.

The Monlam, or 'Path of Aspiration', is a gathering where practitioners engage in collective prayer to seek the welfare and harmony of all beings. The event includes recitations, ritual ceremonies, and meditation sessions designed to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and peace.