Panorama of the journey to invite Buddha's relics to be enshrined at Thanh Tam Pagoda

xá lợi Đức Phật - Ảnh 1. — Buddha's relics are enshrined at Thanh Tam Pagoda - Photo: DANG HUY

The Buddha's relics were brought to Tan Son Nhat International Airport by military aircraft on the morning of May 2. They will then be enshrined at Thanh Tam Pagoda from May 2 to 7, within the framework of the 2025 United Nations Vesak Festival in Vietnam .

The first time Buddha's relics were brought to Vietnam

Mr. Kiren Rijiju - Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minorities of India, Mr. Kandula Durgesh - Minister of Tourism and Culture of Andhra Pradesh state, along with eminent monks and senior officials of India escorted the Buddha's relics to Ho Chi Minh City.

This is the first time Buddha's relics have been brought to Vietnam.

After that, the Buddha's relics will be enshrined in Tay Ninh, Hanoi and Ha Nam provinces until May 21, before being brought back to India.

According to the organizers, the Buddha's relics were invited from the holy land of Sarnath - where the Buddha preached for the first time.

This invitation is sponsored by the Mahabodhi Society of India and the National Museum of the Government of India, supported by the International Buddhist Confederation.

xá lợi Đức Phật - Ảnh 2. — Buddha's relics brought to Vietnam for the first time - Photo: DANG HUY

xá lợi Đức Phật - Ảnh 3. — Ceremony of inviting Buddha's relics - Photo: DANG HUY

Re-enacting the life and message of Buddha

On this occasion, the Indian Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs brought a cutting from the sacred Bodhi tree to present to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, which was planted at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.

A thematic exhibition on the historical links in Buddhist beliefs, art and culture between India and Vietnam will also be held at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City - Campus II.

In addition, accompanying the delegation is an Indian art troupe, which will participate in performing the dance drama The Journey of Gautama Buddha , recreating the life and message of Buddha Shakyamuni.

xá lợi Đức Phật - Ảnh 4. — Close-up of Buddha's relics - Photo: Organizing Committee

Sacred relics of Buddha

According to the organizers, the sacred relics of the Tathagata Buddha are kept at the Mūlagandhakuti Vihāra Monastery at the Ishipatana Migadaya Sanctuary, Sarnath, Kashi (Varanasi), India.

Isipatana Migadāya, Sarnath is an eternally sacred place for Buddhists where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon (discourse) to his five disciples known as the Dhammacakkapavattana - The Discourse on Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma.

That was the beginning of the glorious journey of Dhamma from the sacred place where today the Dhamek Stupa is located in holy Sarnath.

The sacred relics enshrined at Sarnath are the bodily relics (Shariradhātu) of the Compassionate One. It is believed that Gautama Buddha gave permission for his remains to be kept in the stupas.

After his Parinibbāna under the twin Sāla trees in the Sāla grove of the Mallas at Kushinārā (Kushinagar), his sacred body was cremated at the Mukutabandhana Caitya (now the Ramāvar Stupa) in a ceremony befitting the Blessed One.

According to the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the sacred body of Buddha Shakyamuni was burned without giving off smoke, leaving behind bone relics.

During the cremation, seven parts of his body including his usnis (frontal bone), four teeth (molars) and two ribs were not reduced to ashes (not broken).

Other body parts shrunk into relics of various sizes. The remaining body parts of Shakyamuni Buddha were regarded as relics and have become the most revered treasures ever since.