International Buddhist Conclave concludes in Varanasi

The fourth International Buddhist Conclave, aimed at boosting tourism in country and showcasing India's Buddhist heritage and pilgrimage sites, concluded here.
The event began in Bodhgaya in Bihar on September 26. A total of 121 delegates from 31 countries stayed there for two days and visited Buddhist sites there, said Tourist Information Officer of Varanasi Santosh Kumar Singh.
They then arrived here yesterday evening and visited Ganga ghats and participated in the famous 'Ganga Aarti', he said.
The delegates today visited the Sarnath museum and the temples and then left for New Delhi, he said.
Foreign tour operators, travel writers, travel agents, opinion makers, Buddhist scholars, Buddhist monks and even media persons from the countries participated in the conclave.

A cultural programme was organised here yesterday for the delegates, which was also attended by UP Tourism Minister Om Prakash Singh, Tourism Secretary Amrit Abhijat, Varanasi Divisional Commissioner R M Srivastava and other district officials.