Filmmaking at Bodhgaya gets costlier

Here's some bad news for those planning to shoot a film at the Mahabodhi temple, the holiest Buddhist shrine. Making a film at the temple in Bodhgaya, Buddhism's birthplace, has just got costlier.

The Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee has decided to charge more from filmmakers planning to shoot a film at the temple, to generate resources for the conservation and maintenance of the temple, committee secretary Kalicharan Yadav said.
 
Yadav said the committee decided to increase the charges as the temple has now been declared a world heritage site.

• Also read: Controversy around Bodhgaya

Foreign filmmakers will henceforth have to pay $ 300 for making a documentary and $ 500 for making a film at Bodhgaya, while an Indian filmmaker will now have to shell out Rs 5,000 for a documentary and Rs10, 000 for a film.

Indian and foreign filmmakers, particularly Buddhist filmmakers, have made several long and short films and documentaries on Buddha at Bodhgaya.

Buddha had attained enlightenment near the temple under a banyan tree some 2,500 years ago. The United Nations' cultural arm, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, had declared the temple as a world heritage site in 2002. The 1,500-year-old temple was the 23rd site in India to be so honoured.