Buddha’s sacred relics reach Vietnam safely

Hanoi

Buddha’s sacred relics from India reached Vietnam on Friday for a spiritual ceremony. The relics were first taken to the Vietnam Buddhist University for prayers and then carried in a grand procession to Thanh Tam Pagoda. There, the public will view the relics during a special exposition.

Indian Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, led the delegation. He shared his feelings on social media, calling the journey deeply spiritual. Rijiju said carrying the relics brought alive Lord Buddha’s timeless message of peace, unity, and compassion.

The relics will stay in Vietnam from May 2 to May 21 as part of the UN Vesak Day celebrations. Vesak marks Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death. It is observed globally by Buddhists and supported by the United Nations.

Earlier, on Wednesday, monks, bhikkhunis, diplomats, and Buddhist leaders offered prayers to the relics at the National Museum in New Delhi. The sacred item had arrived from Sarnath, where it is normally housed at Mulagandha Kuti Vihar. It was originally found in Nagarjuna Konda, Andhra Pradesh, and is believed to date back to before 246 CE.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to India, Nguyen Thanh Hai, and Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner, Priyanga Wickramasinghe, also took part in the prayers.

This is the first time the Indian Ministry of Culture, along with the International Buddhist Confederation, is organizing such an event in four Vietnamese cities. The sharing of the relics highlights strong cultural ties between India and Vietnam, rooted in centuries of Buddhist tradition.