GAYA JI, May 31 -- Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bodh Gaya on Saturday, as part of his five-day state visit to India from May 30 to June 3. He was officially received by Bihar Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) and agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha at Gaya International Airport. This is his first visit to any foreign country. Accompanied by a high-level delegation, Hlaing arrived at the World Heritage Mahabodhi Temple around 10:15 am. Monks led by temple caretaker Bhikhu Deenanand welcomed him and honoured him by presenting him with a khada (ceremonial scarf). Hlaing entered the Mahabodhi Temple complex on foot and offered prayers and worshipped in the sanctum sanctorum. He offered kheer (rice pudding) to Lord Buddha and expressed his reverence by presenting a chivar (monastic robe) and also performed a parikrama (circumambulation) of the Temple. After that, he spent some time in meditation under the sacred Bodhi Tree where the temple management provided him with various details regarding the history, religious significance and features of the Mahabodhi Temple complex, Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee secretary Mahashweta Maharathi said. Hlaing then visited the historical Sujata Temple and the Myanmar Buddhist Monastery. The President returned to the Gaya International Airport around 2.30pm, from where his special aircraft departed for Delhi. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X, "Strengthening civilisational links with our neighbour! A warm welcome to President U Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on his arrival in Bodh Gaya...The visit reflects the strong spiritual, historical and people-to-people ties that bind our two countries and the depth of our ongoing cooperation."...