Buddhist Pilgrimage and Living Religious Heritage in North India

Buddhist pilgrimage, particularly at the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya, serves as a living memory that embeds and diffuses the spiritual biography of the Buddha, playing a crucial role in Buddhist practice. The study reveals how these sacred spaces support a moral geography, shaping aspirations for those on the path to nirvana. By integrating insights from new materialism, it demonstrates the convergence of materiality and meaning at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting how Buddhist rituals intersect with heritage formations at both national and global scales. This research underscores the sensory, performative, and affective dimensions of place in Buddhist pilgrimage.

Geary, D. (2024). Buddhist Pilgrimage and Living Religious Heritage in North India. The Oxford Handbook of Lived Buddhism, 212–226. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197658697.013.11