The International "Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony" (classical Buddhist texts chanting ceremony) has begun in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
Thousands of monks and devotees from across the globe are participating in it.
The ten-day-long festival will end on December 12, which will be attended by senior monks and their followers from countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Pilgrims took part in their traditional costumes at one of the holiest Buddhist shrines, where Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment under a tree.
"Today is Tripitaka ceremony and everybody all around the world, I believe, has come here to celebrate. I am also very happy to be here as well," said Australian national, Phukhal De Kamal.
As a part of the festivities, a monk lit up the ceremonial lamps before the recitation of the holy Buddhist scripture called 'Tripitaka', which is a collection of Lord Buddha's sermons.
"The holy scripture will be recited for these ten days. This recitation is a collection of Lord Buddha's sermons," said monk Pragyadeep.
Tripitaka, the Buddhist scripture, includes over 18,000 discourses and around 84,000 stories of Gautam Buddha.
Monks from across the world gather each year at Bodhgaya, which is situated on the banks of Niranjana River and is a highly revered site for Buddhists.
