The city of Jammu is home to thousands of Ladakhi Buddhists as well as many neo-Buddhists. A suitable centre for Buddhist worship and community service was a strongly felt need by this segment of the Jammu population. The Mahabodhi Deepa Centre in Jammu city was opened in February 2008, to meet this need. The centre provides a base for the study of Dhamma, practice of meditation while simultaneously acting as a cultural and social centre for the Buddhist community of Jammu city and its surrounding areas.
At the inauguration ceremony HE the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir spoke of how the philosophy of Buddhism continues to be treasured by most people of India and a source of inspiration to them, irrespective of their religion. The Buddhist philosophy used by Mahatma Gandhi against colonialism can be equally effective in the fight against extremism, terrorism and threat of nuclear weapons.