Exhibition of Holy Relics of Lord Buddha Organized in Kalmykia, Russia, 50,000 Devotees Participated

Kalmykia (Russia), October 18 (IANS). More than 50,000 devotees reached the monastery to attend the exhibition of the holy relics of Lord Buddha in Russia. According to information given by an official on Saturday, devotees waited in long queues for one kilometer to attend the exhibition of the holy relics of Lord Buddha. The official said that this exhibition from India received an unprecedented response in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia. As of Sunday, more than 50,000 devotees have visited the revered remains at the revered Geden Shedup Choekorling Monastery, also known as the ‘Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha,’ a Russian culture ministry official said. These sacred relics, considered national heritage of India, were brought to the capital Elista by a high-level delegation led by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Senior Indian monks were also included in this delegation. The statement said the delegation was holding special religious services and blessings for Kalmykia’s predominantly Buddhist population. Kalmykia is the only region in Europe where Buddhism is the dominant religion. The exhibition started from October 11, in which the spiritual enthusiasm of the devotees is clearly visible. “Today, the line of devotees stretched nearly a kilometer from the monastery, reflecting the deep resonance of the event. The Golden Abode, an important Tibetan Buddhist center opened in 1996, located in the vast Kalmyk plains, has seen a steady stream of devotees since early morning,” the statement said. The official said that this historic exhibition, the first of its kind in the Russian Republic, is a testament to the deep civilizational ties between India and Russia. “It revives the lasting legacy of the respected Buddhist monk and diplomat of Ladakh, 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, who was instrumental in reviving Buddhism in Mongolia and reviving interest in Buddhism in Russian regions such as Kalmykia, Buryatia and Tuva,” he said. The event is organized by the BTI Division of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), National Museum and Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA). –IANS KK/DKP Share this story Tags