Hydro cleaning of Mahabodhi Mahavihara underway to protect ancient structure ahead of Buddha Purnima

Gaya: As accumulated dirt, biological growth and surface impurities posed a real threat to the structural quality and longevity of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara, the most sacred Buddhist shrine symbolising Buddha’s enlightenment and elevation to divinity, the shrine management committee has undertaken hydro cleaning of the structure using a state-of-the-art technique.Buddha Purnima, the day marking the triple coincidence of the birth, enlightenment and salvation of Buddha, has been fixed as the deadline for completion of the work. Buddha Purnima this year falls on May 1.The 180 ft tall Mahavihara, a world heritage site as per a 2002 notification of the Unesco, the world cultural body, was originally built by emperor Ashoka about 2,300 years ago in the 3rd century BC. The present form of the structure is attributed to its reconstruction in the 6th century AD.

Giving details of the ongoing hydro cleaning exercise, shrine management committee secretary Mahashweta Maharathi said the work had been assigned to ‘CHOBTAM’, a volunteer group from Thailand having domain expertise.The work is being carried out under the regular supervision of a representative of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the agency responsible for the preservation and conservation of the shrine.

The ASI representative remains physically present in the premises throughout the period of the work.Maharathi claimed that utmost care was being exercised to ensure that no damage is caused to the structure during the cleaning process and that its sanctity, structural integrity and heritage value are kept intact. According to her, the last time the shrine was cleaned through a chemical wash was in 1996. Because of its harmful nature, the ASI has advised against the use of chemicals in the cleaning process.As per the ASI’s advice, no chemical is being used in the ongoing hydro cleaning of the shrine, and only pure water under controlled conditions is being gently used to remove dirt, surface impurities and biological growth.Keeping in view the age and importance of the monument, non-invasive bamboo scaffolding has been erected to facilitate safe and careful access.The cleaning work was initiated on Feb 17 and more than 50% of the work has been completed, the secretary said.

The shrine will get a rejuvenated and fresh look after the hydro cleaning exercise. The structure’s longevity too will receive a boost.Asked about the health of the sacred Bodhi tree, the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee secretary said the tree was in good health and that plant scientists from the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute conduct a health check-up of the tree every six months. “The scientists are always available on call,” she said.