Over 90,000 devotees flocked to a historic exposition of Lord Buddha’s holy relics in Elista, Russia, before their return to India. The week-long event, held at the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery, known as the ‘Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha,’ marked a significant moment for spiritual and cultural exchange. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha led the delegation that brought the relics back to India after the successful exposition, which ran from October 11 to 18. This event underscored India’s commitment to fostering mutual understanding and building lasting connections through shared spiritual experiences, highlighting the deep Buddhist heritage connecting India and Russia. The relics, a National Treasure of India, were previously brought to Elista by a high-level Indian delegation, including senior monks and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. Special ceremonies offered blessings to the people of Kalmykia, Europe’s only Buddhist-majority region. The exposition celebrated the enduring cultural ties between the two nations and honored the legacy of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, who was instrumental in revitalizing Buddhism across Russian regions.
