印度遭遇83年来最严重干旱 上千僧众举办法会求雨

据《IANS》报道，2009年8月6日，印度比哈尔邦成百上千的僧众在菩提迦耶的摩诃菩提寺举行了专门的祈雨法会，祈求雨神赐福、结束该邦的干旱期。该法会将一直进行到8月12日。

菩提迦耶被认为是佛教的发源地。据说，2550年前，佛祖就是在此地成道的。而此次为期七天的法会就在佛祖悟道的菩提树下进行。菩提迦耶几十座寺院的僧众和其他来自不同国家的法师们参加了此次法会。

据悉，印度包括比哈尔邦在内的北部大部分地区遭遇了83年来最严重的干旱，累积季风季节数据下跌至低于平均水平的43%。（编译：子规）

Patna: Hundreds of Buddhist monks in Bihar have been performing special prayers and rituals at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya to appease the rain god and end the ongoing dry spell in the state.
"We began special puja from Thursday at the Mahabodhi temple of Bodh Gaya to seek blessings of god for rains. Our puja will continue till Aug 12," in-charge of Bodh Gaya centre of Mahabodhi Society of India P. Sivali Thera told IANS.

Bodh Gaya is considered the birthplace of Buddhism. Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment about 2,550 years ago at this place.

Thera said the Buddhist monks have been performing special puja for rain under the holy Bodhi tree at the temple. The monks will perform prayers for seven days under the tree.

He said monks from dozens of monasteries at Bodh Gaya and several other monks from different countries have been participating in the prayers.