A huge gathering of devotees chanted prayers and participated in the final 'Darshan' of Sarnath's Holy Relic of the Buddha that was placed in the secure precincts of the National Museum for one day.

Among the dignitaries who participated in the prayers was Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, the Ambassador of Vietnam.

The Sacred Relic of the Buddha was carried out with reverance from the National Museum as a couple of hundred devotees lined the path and thronged at the gates of the Museum.

The cavalcade of vehicles with monks, nuns and delegates attending the Holy Relic exposition in Vietnam and the UN Day of Vesak celebrations reached Hindon air base where a ceremonial send off was held, with full State Honours for an onward journey to Vietnam.

As a special gesture, around 120 monks flew down from Vietnam to pay their obeisance to the holy relic and then returned to their country on the same day, before the Relic arrived in Vietnam , in order to receive the Holy Relic .

The delegation was led by Most Ven. Thic Hue Thong, Vice President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Most Ven. Dr Thich Nhat Tu, Vice President IBC and the Standing Vice Chancellor, Vietnam Buddhist University also flew down especially for receiving the Holy Relic.

The Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) New Delhi is organising for the first time the Holy Relic exposition in four cities of Vietnam from the 3- 21 May, 2025.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

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