UP's Deputy CM Maurya leads delegation that transported Buddha relics to Russia for exposition

Before departing from Delhi on Saturday, Maurya offered prayers to the relics at Palam Airport.

“This is a very fortunate moment in my life. I thank Prime Minister Modi from the bottom of my heart for this. These remains have a long history… it is a very big day,” Maurya told ANI.

Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), said the initiative would further strengthen ties between India and Russia.

“It is certainly going to strengthen the relationship between the two countries because Buddhism has been popular in Russia. Keshav Prasad Maurya is leading the delegation, and upon their return, Manoj Sinha will escort the relics back. We have 11 monks from the Theravada and Mahayana traditions, and the 43rd Sakya Trizin Rinpoche is accompanying us,” Halder told ANI.

Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, the 43rd Sakya Trizin, said he felt honoured to lead the spiritual component of the delegation.
“This is a great initiative by the government. It will help our Russian brothers and sisters. I hope the Indian government will take the relics to all parts of the world,” he said.

The exhibition is being organized jointly by India’s Ministry of Culture, the International Buddhist Confederation, the National Museum of India, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), in collaboration with local Russian authorities, according to RT.

This marks the first time the Holy Relics of Buddha are being displayed in Russia.

As part of the cultural exchange, India will also donate replicas of 16 Buddhist artifacts — including stone statues and bas-reliefs dating from the 2nd to 11th centuries — along with copies of ancient Sanskrit manuscripts of Buddhist texts. The replicas will become part of the Palmova Museum’s permanent collection in Elista.

In recent years, the holy relics of Buddha have also been taken to Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam for similar expositions.