GUNTUR: Exactly an year ago, the village of Amaravathi was bristling with activity and was under national and international media focus.

Countless followers of Buddhist tenets converged on this small village to organise Kalachakra, the holiest of Buddhist ritual. And officiating this great event was none else than the high priest of Tibetan Lamaism, the Dalai Lama.

A year later, Amaravathi wears a subdued look. There are no signs of hectic activity. The Buddhist monks are coming, but in small groups as re-visiting the Kalachakra site is a must for them. Their number is small and the visits are fewer.

‘‘Though the Kalachakra was a week-long event, there was lot of excitement for two years due to the VIP visits before and after the event. The Buddhists are still coming, but their number is very low,’’ said Bavirisetti Hanumantha Rao, a local.

‘‘We expected lot more development post-Kalachakra. Not even 10 per cent of development is seen now,’’ said Vasireddy Madhava Rao, a resident of Krosuru Road in the village.

From October 2005 to February 2006, his house was the headquarters of Norbulinga organisation, which organised the Kalachakra.

‘‘There is no memorial at the Kalachakra Mandal, where the main ritual was organised. Agreed that the land is owned by a private individual. But, the government could have acquired the land and built a memorial,’’ he said.

‘‘We made roaring business during those days. If only those days return again,’’ said B Hanumaiah, a trader. ‘‘As per the Buddhist tradition, the monks should return to the Kalachakra site the next year. Hence, the monks are coming in small groups for the last few weeks,’’ said superintending archaeologist of Archaeological Survey of India D Kannababu.