New Delhi, October 11
National Museum Director General Gurmeet Singh Chawla and a high-level delegation of 11 senior Indian monks on Saturday offered prayers to the sacred Relics of Gautam Buddha, before departing for Russia's Kalmykia Republic for an exposition.
The exposition will be held in the capital city of Elista from October 11 to 18.
The Ministry of Culture is organising the exposition with the International Buddhist Confederation, the National Museum, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
The Sacred Relics will be enshrined in the main Buddhist monastery in Elista, known as the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery, also called the 'Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha.'
The sacred relics of Lord Buddha, preserved in the National Museum here, will be transported to Russia's Republic of Kalmykia for an exposition.
A high-level delegation of eleven senior Indian monks will also offer blessings to the local devotees and conduct religious services for the region's predominantly Buddhist population, according to a release.
The Holy Relics exposition, a first in the Russian Republic, is organised by the Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the National Museum, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). It will be held in the capital city of Elista from October 11-18.
The Holy Relics will be received by the Head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia, Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, Geshe Tenzin Choidak, Batu Sergeyevich Khasikov, Head of the Republic of Kalmykia and other eminent Buddhist Sangha members, the release said.
The Sacred Relics will be enshrined in the main Buddhist monastery in Elista, known as the Geden Shedrup Choikorling Monastery, also referred to as the "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha".
This is a significant Tibetan Buddhist centre, opened for the public in 1996 and is surrounded by the Kalmyk steppe.
It may be recalled that it was the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the revered Buddhist monk and diplomat from Ladakh, who played a pivotal role in reviving Buddhism in Mongolia and, subsequently, was also instrumental in reintroducing interest in Buddha dharma in the three regions of Russia, namely Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva.
The delegation, led by the Deputy Chief Minister of UP, Keshav Prasad Maurya, will host additional activities during the week. These include teachings and discourses by His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, Head of the Sakya Order; the presentation of the Holy 'Kanjur', a Set of 108 Mongolian religious texts originally translated from the Tibetan language. IBC will present the Kanjur to nine Buddhist Institutes and a University. These are from the Manuscripts division of the Ministry of Culture.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I appreciate cultural exchanges, I hope the relics are properly secured and insured. These are priceless national treasures that should be handled with utmost care during transportation.
Amazing to see India's Buddhist heritage reaching global audiences! This is our ancient civilization's gift to humanity. Jai Bharat! 🇮🇳
As someone who practices Buddhism in India, this makes me so proud! The connection between Indian Buddhism and Russian Buddhist communities through such initiatives is truly heartwarming. May peace prevail!
Good initiative but I wish our government would also focus on preserving Buddhist sites within India. Many ancient stupas and monasteries need better maintenance and protection.
Interesting to learn about the Buddhist population in Russia's Kalmykia region. India's cultural outreach through religious diplomacy is quite strategic and meaningful in today's global context.
Beautiful! This is what Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family) truly means. Sharing our spiritual treasures builds bridges between nations. Om Mani Padme Hum ðŸ™
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