The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites, remains at the center of a long-standing controversy. While it is believed to be the very place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment, its management and control have been under dispute for decades. Despite India’s independence, the 1949 Bodh Gaya Temple Act ensured that Hindus retained significant control over the temple, sidelining the Buddhist community. Protests, legal battles, and political promises have repeatedly surfaced, yet the demand for full Buddhist authority over the temple remains unfulfilled.