India Sends Lord Buddha's Holy Relics From Sarnath To Vietnam For UN Vesak Day Celebrations

The holy relics of Lord Buddha from the sacred site of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, reached Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City on Friday (2 May) aboard an Indian Air Force aircraft.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Andhra Pradesh Tourism and Culture Minister Kandula Durgesh, along with revered monks and senior Indian officials, accompanied the sacred relics aboard the special aircraft.

The visit is part of the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations, which Vietnam is hosting from 6 to 8 May, the Ministry of Minority Affairs said in a press release.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared on his official X account, highlighting the ceremonial welcome and grand procession of the sacred relics of Lord Buddha.

"Very pious moment which reflects the ancient Buddhist heritage of India, & our spiritual ties with Vietnam. The "Holy Relics" will be in Vietnam from 2nd–21st May 2025 for the UN Vesak Day celebrations," the minister said.

The relics, originating from Sarnath, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon,

The 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 are visiting Vietnam for the first time. 

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha with the cooperation of the Government of Vietnam have extended local support for the Holy Relics in Vietnam as per mutual arrangements between the two countries.

Before their departure, the relics were placed in a special protected enclosure at Delhi’s national museum on Wednesday (30 April) for ceremonial prayers.

On Thursday (1 May) evening, they were moved in a bulletproof vehicle with state honours from the museum to Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad, from where they were flown to Vietnam.

"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," the release said.

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 Thích Trí Quảng and monks of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

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.

On the occasion, a sapling of the Sacred Bodhi tree brought from India was planted by the Rijiju and the Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha at the Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City.

The Holy Relics will be at the Thanh Tam Monastery from 2-7 May 2025 followed by their exposition at Tay Ninh, Ha Noi and Ha Nam provinces till 21 May 2025.

A special exhibition tracing 2,000 years of shared Buddhist cultural history between India and Vietnam will also be displayed at the university.

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