News and Views on Tibet

Holy ashes fail to attract pilgrims

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By PRANAVA K CHAUDHARY

PATNA – The introduction of an entrance fee of Rs 100 for having a glimpse of the holy ashes of Lord Buddha at the Patna museum has so far failed to attract domestic and Buddhist pilgrims. The holy ashes have been put on display since January 11 to attract a large number of Buddhist pilgrims from Asian countries.

According to a rough estimate, till date, roughly 300 visitors, mostly non-Buddhist pilgrims, have so far visited the special gallery. On an average, more than 400 people usually visit the Patna museum daily to see various galleries excluding the special gallery meant for the holy ashes of Lord Buddha. The entrance fee for the general galleries is Rs 5.

Earlier, a proposal was made for keeping the entrance fee at Rs 10, but it was rejected by the government, since the entrance fee of Rs 100 is aimed at getting more revenue by attracting Buddhist pilgrims from Asian countries.The casket having priceless holy ashes, and kept on the first floor of the Patna museum since January 11, contains Lord Buddha’s ashes mixed with clay, a copper punch-marked coin and a tiny leaf made of gold. Noted archaeologist A S Altekar had discovered the casket in 1958 during the excavation at Raja Vishal Ka Garh now in Vaishali district. The excavation was conducted by Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institute.

“More than 60 per cent of visitors to the Patna museum belong to rural areas. This museum would perhaps be the first in the country which has a large number of rural visitors,” said a senior official of the museum.

The curator of the museum, Madhuri Agrawal, justified the government’s decision to keep a hefty entrance fee. “The casket is priceless and unique,” she said.

The gallery having the holy ashes would be closed for a week for the public after holi festival in view of its renovation work.The Rahul gallery, which possesses Tibetan Thanka painting, is closed for the last several months due to its renovation.

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