Buddhist relics from India to travel to Russia

Buddhist relics from India will go to the city of Elista in Russia for the “Third International Buddhist Forum” which will be held from September 25 to 28. However, relics have not been finalised.

A delegation from Russia arrived in New Delhi to discuss cooperation between Buddhist communities of the two countries. The Russian embassy in New Delhi said the visit would include a discussion on bringing the remains of Buddha Shakyamuni (a relic sacred to all Buddhists) and the installation of a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni in Elista. Batu Khasikov, Head of the Republic of Kalmykia of the Russian Federation said the Buddhist statue would be a gift from India.

“The relics have not been finalised yet. The Buddhist statue will be installed in the park of Elista. All Buddhist countries will take part in the international forum. This includes India, China, Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Cambodia and Africa among others. Buddhism is a philosophy which unites a lot of people. The Buddhist community is not vast in Russia but this forum will give an opportunity to people to get acquainted with the culture," he said.

He said meetings had been held in this regard with the Ministry of Culture. The Russian delegation hails from Kalmyk Republic, which is located just south-west of Kazakhstan and in the north-west of the Caucasian mountain range. Khasikov said the relics would be taken from India in a special flight. “It is the visit of our leader to our place. Relics will be placed in the Buddhist temple and it is a huge temple,” he said.