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India Gazette
04-05-2025
- India Gazette
Ho Chi Minh glows ahead of Holy Buddha relic exposition as global delegates arrive
By Rajnish Singh Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), May 4 (ANI): With just two days remaining until the official commencement of the Holy Buddha relic exposition, the city is already witnessing a surge in spiritual fervor and international attention. On Day 2 of the grand event, the venue reported an impressive cumulative footfall of 3.5 lakh devotees, reflecting the deep reverence and anticipation surrounding the sacred occasion. 'Ho Chi Minh City shines on Day -2 of the Holy Buddha Relic Exposition with a cumulative footfall 3.5 lakhs. Delegates of UNDV across the globe arriving today add ethnic glamour to the devotee participation,' International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) shares the footfall on its X. Adding to the vibrant atmosphere, international delegates arriving for the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV), 2025 celebrations are infusing the city with rich cultural diversity. Their presence is lending an added layer of ethnic glamour to the spiritual gathering, as devotees from around the world converge in shared reverence for the holy relics of the Buddha. The city is brimming with devotional energy, with colorful cultural showcases, spiritual discourses, and preparations in full swing, promising a truly historic exposition in the days to come. The sacred relics of the Buddha are being ceremoniously enshrined, venerated, and worshiped here at Thanh Tam Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City. The relics, that reached here from National Museum in Delhi on May 2, will be kept here till May 8, 2025 (coinciding with the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025). Following the initial display, the Buddha relics will be transported to Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Province, a revered spiritual pilgrimage site in southern Vietnam, where they will be exhibited from May 9 to 13. The relics will then be moved to Quan Su Monastery in Hanoi, the central headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, for public viewing from May 14 to 18. The final stop will be Tam Chuc Monastery in Ha Nam Province--recognized as Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist center and the host of the 2019 United Nations Day of Vesak--where the relics will be on display from May 18 to 21. A large gathering of monks, bhikkhunis, diplomats and the Sangha had offered chanting and special prayers to the Holy Buddha relic at a protected enclosure of the National Museum, New Delhi when it was brought there on May 1 from Sarnath, a famous place in India known for the first teachings of Buddhism by Gautam Buddha, en route to Vietnam. The Ambassador of Vietnam to India, Nguyen Thanh Hai, as also the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Priyanga Wickramasinghe had joined the prayers. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the IBC is holding for the first time an exposition of the sacred Buddha relic in four cities of Vietnam to coincide with the celebrations for the UN Vesak Day. This holy relic of the Buddha is enshrined in Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, Sarnath and was excavated in Nagarjuna Konda, Andhra Pradesh (India). It is believed to be dated older than 246 CE. On May 1, when the sacred relic left Delhi, as a special gesture, around 120 monks from Vietnam reached from Vietnam to the National museum in New Delhi to pay their obeisance to the holy relic and then returned to their country on the same day, before the relic travels to Vietnam, in order to receive the Holy Relic in Vietnam. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Holy relics of Lord Buddha reach Vietnam in IAF aircraft
New Delhi, The holy relics of Lord Buddha, enshrined at a vihara in Uttar Pradesh's Sarnath, reached Ho Chi Minh City on Friday in an IAF aircraft for an exposition during the gala celebrations of the United Nations Day of Vesak being hosted by Vietnam. Union Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Tourism and Culture of Andhra Pradesh Kandula Durgesh, revered monks and senior officials from India accompanied the sacred relics, which were transported by the special aircraft, the government said in a statement. Rijiju is leading the government delegation to Vietnam. "Arrived in Vietnam leading the high-level Indian delegation with the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha. Grand ceremonial reception was accorded by the Govt of Vietnam & Vietnam Buddhist Sanghas. The Holy Relics will be in Vietnam from 2nd-21st May 2025 for UN Vesak Day celebrations," Rijiju posted on X and also shared some photos. The visit is taking place in the context of the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations being hosted by Vietnam from May 6-8, the Ministry of Minority Affairs said in a statement on Friday. The holy relics of Lord Buddha were transported to Vietnam by the special IAF aircraft from the Hindan Air Base in Ghaziabad, befitting the status of a "State Guest", officials said on Thursday. The sacred relics were ceremonially brought to Delhi on Wednesday and placed in a "special protected enclosure" at the National Museum for prayers for a couple of hours. On Thursday evening, the holy relics were taken from the National Museum to the Hindan Air Base with full "state honours" in a "special bulletproof vehicle" after rituals at the museum for their onward journey to Vietnam. The aircraft arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday morning. The holy relics were received by Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Religious and Ethnic Affairs of Vietnam, Duong Ngoc Hai, Standing Vice-Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Thich Tri Quang and venerable monks of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the statement said. Special ceremonial prayers were held at the airport on arrival, followed by prayers led by the Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the enshrinement of the holy relics at Thanh Tam Monastery, Ho Chi Minh City, it said. "On the occasion, a sapling of the Sacred Bodhi Tree brought from India was planted by the visiting minister from India and the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at the Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City," the statement said. In Vietnam, the sacred relics will be ceremoniously enshrined, venerated and worshipped at several important sites, the culture ministry earlier said. The holy relics will be at the Thanh Tam Monastery from May 2-7, followed by their exposition in the Tay Ninh, Ha Noi and Ha Nam provinces till May 21, it said. The sacred relics have been provided through the Mahabodhi Society of India and the National Museum of the government of India with the support of the International Buddha Confederation. The holy relics hold special significance for the Buddhist community around the world, and their exposition in Vietnam is taking place for the first time. "India treasures the strong bonds between the people of India and Vietnam and wish that the visit of holy relics to Vietnam and other related activities will further deepen these close ties between India and Vietnam," it said.
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Buddha's sacred relics from India arrive in Vietnam
Hanoi: The sacred relics of Buddha from India arrived in Vietnam on Friday. They were brought to the Vietnam Buddhist University for a special ceremony and then carried in a grand procession to Thanh Tam Pagoda, where the public exposition of the relics will take place. Earlier in the day, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Minority Affairs, took to social media and expressed gratitude for leading the delegation carrying the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha to Vietnam, stating it as an experience that touches the soul. 'Humbled to lead the delegation carrying the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha to Vietnam, an experience that touches the soul. Joined by Revered Monks, Kandula Durgesh ji, Minister for Tourism, Culture & Cinematography, Andhra Pradesh & officials on this sacred journey of peace, compassion & harmony. The Holy Relics would be in Vietnam from 2 to 21 May 2025 as part of the UN Vesak Day celebrations,' Rijiju posted on X. 'Paid my heartfelt respects before embarking on a deeply spiritual journey to Vietnam, accompanying the sacred Holy Relics of Lord Buddha. Carrying with us His timeless message of peace, compassion and unity,' he said in another post. Earlier on Wednesday, a large gathering of monks, bhikkhunis, diplomats, and the Sangha offered chanting and special prayers to the Holy Buddha Relic at a protected enclosure of the National Museum, New Delhi. The sacred Relic arrived earlier from Sarnath en route to Vietnam. The Ambassador of Vietnam to India, Nguyen Thanh Hai, as also the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Priyanga Wickramasinghe joined the prayers. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), is holding for the first time an exposition of the Sacred Buddha Relic in four cities of Vietnam to coincide with the celebrations for the UN Vesak Day. This Holy Relic of the Buddha is enshrined in Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Sarnath, and was excavated in Nagarjuna Konda, Andhra Pradesh. It is believed to be older than 246 CE. India and Vietnam share age-old cultural and civilisational links with regular exchanges. Buddhist links between the two countries represent civilisational connections dating back millennia. Numerous Buddhist scholars and pilgrims travel to India regularly, including the Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda in Bodhgaya.
