India is sending a sacred relic of Lord Buddha to Vietnam for the first time. This special journey is happening as part of the Vesak celebrations, a major Buddhist festival, making it a historic moment for both countries.

The event is being organized by India’s Ministry of Culture along with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). It highlights the deep spiritual and cultural connection between India and Vietnam, both countries with strong Buddhist roots.

The sacred relic will be on display in Vietnam for 20 days, where millions of devotees are expected to gather and pay their respects. The relic, originally found at Nagarjuna Konda in Andhra Pradesh, is normally kept at the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara temple in Sarnath.

Before leaving for Vietnam, the relic arrived at the National Museum in New Delhi on April 30. It was received with traditional chants and prayers. 

A number of prominent dignitaries attended the event, including Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC); Nguyen Thanh Hai, Vietnam’s Ambassador to India; and Priyanga Wickramasinghe, the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka.

The relic has been placed in a specially protected space and will be open for meditation and prayer by followers of Buddhism, including diplomats from many Buddhist countries.

Speaking to WION, DG Abhijit Halder said, "A large number of Vietnamese come to India to various Buddhist sites, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya. This time, when we take relics, we have a very unique occasion, we have the UN Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City. 40,000 people across the world, from 100 countries, will be converging, around that time, we will be taking the Holy relic from India."

The relic is scheduled to be flown to Ho Chi Minh City on May 1, using a dedicated aircraft provided by the Indian Air Force. It will be escorted by senior Buddhist monks and led by Kiren Rijiju, India’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs.

The International Buddhist Confederation, based in New Delhi, is playing a key role in coordinating the entire event.

 

You might also be interested in - Trump signs historic Ukraine deal for minerals and aid