Indian Prime Minister: Initiative to share Buddha's relics with Vietnam creates cultural phenomenon

Photo caption

Thousands of people and Buddhists attended the procession of Buddha Sakyamuni's relics to Tam Chuc Pagoda on the morning of May 17, 2025. Photo: Dai Nghia/VNA

A VNA correspondent in New Delhi said that in episode 123 of the radio program Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi said: “You can imagine that in Vietnam, which has a population of about 100 million people, more than 15 million people have paid homage to the relics of the Buddha. The images and videos that I saw on social media made me realize that the devotion is limitless. Be it rain or shine, children, the elderly, the disabled… everyone lined up for hours to pay their respects. The respect of the people there for this pilgrimage was so deep that the Vietnamese government requested an extension of the enshrinement of the Buddha’s relics for another 12 days and India happily agreed.”

According to Prime Minister Modi, the event has evolved into a festival in Vietnam, highlighting the profound influence of India’s cultural heritage on the international stage. The sharing of Buddha’s relics with Vietnam has highlighted the deep cultural and spiritual connection between the two countries, promoting greater understanding of Indian heritage.

The Indian Prime Minister also encouraged his people to visit Buddhist sites in their states, highlighting the spiritual and cultural richness such visits can bring. Sharing Buddha’s relics with countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Mongolia has demonstrated the power of Buddhism to bridge cultures and nations.

Ngoc Thuy (Vietnam News Agency)

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/thu-tuong-an-do-sang-kien-chia-se-xa-loi-duc-phat-voi-viet-nam-tao-nen-hien-tuong-van-hoa-20250702061759172.htm