The goal of the Bodh Gaya Global Dialogues is to create a platform for the expression of experiences, reflections, and insights from diverse perspectives—connecting philosophy and teachings, heritage, and sustainability—to build a future rooted in Buddha’s legacy of enlightenment and compassion.

The Dialogues Journey

The 7th edition of the Dialogues will continue the legacy of the previous six editions, held in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Over the years, the Dialogues have made a significant impact, with past editions being hosted at esteemed locations such as Bodh Gaya, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi, and Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar. The Dialogues, with multi-country engagement and multi-stakeholder partnerships, include leading institutions of the Government of India as well as private sector representatives from various states across the country.

The Dialogues bring together multiple themes, including the philosophy and teachings of Buddhism, heritage (both tangible and intangible), art, architecture, and culture. These themes are woven into the popular imagination through a diverse array of parallel events, such as plenary sessions, panel discussions, book launches, film screenings, cultural
evenings, children’s programs, and an award function.

Impact

• Over 6,000 participants have attended the dialogues, with more than 100,000 people joining online from India and abroad.
• Approximately 120 research papers have been presented, featuring multidisciplinary speakers and successfully engaging diverse stakeholders.
• More than 30 media outlets (print and digital) have covered previous editions of the dialogues.
• Print reports of the first to sixth editions are available at: Deshkal India - Bodh Gaya Festival.
• The deliberations are available on YouTube: Deshkal YouTube Channel.
• Photo documentation of the dialogues is available.
• A pictorial book titled Imaging Bodh Gaya: Shared Histories and Global Future has been published.
• An online certificate course explores the multifaceted aspects of Bodh Gaya, along with the philosophy and teachings of Buddhism.
• At the international level, collaborations have been established with the embassies of Bhutan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, and South Korea, along with the Japan Foundation and the Korean Cultural Centre in Delhi.
• At the national level, collaborations include Buddhist institutions, monasteries, universities, and research institutes.