In a historic first, the sacred Buddha Relic from Sarnath, India, will travel to Vietnam for a special exposition during the United Nations (UN) Day of Vesak 2025. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the event underscores the deep cultural and spiritual ties between India and Vietnam.
The Holy Relic, enshrined at Mulagandha Kuti Vihara in Sarnath, will be ceremonially transported to Delhi on April 30, from Varanasi airport. At 5:30 PM, it will be placed in a protected enclosure at the National Museum for prayers, chanting, and meditation by Buddhist followers, including eminent community members and diplomatic representatives from Buddhist nations.
On May 1, the relic will be escorted with full religious sanctity by senior monks to Ho Chi Minh City via a special Indian Air Force aircraft. A high-level delegation, led by Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, and including IBC Secretary General Ven. Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, will participate in the exposition and Vesak celebrations.
The relic, excavated from Nagarjuna Konda in Andhra Pradesh, holds immense historical significance as a relic of Sakyamuni Buddha, venerated since his Mahaparinirvana. Unearthed during excavations led by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1927-31, it was gifted to the Mahabodhi Society of India in 1932. The relic will be displayed at key Vietnamese sites: Hanh Tâm Monastery in Ho Chi Minh City (May 2–8), Bà Đen Mountain in Tây Ninh Province (May 9–13), Quán Sứ Monastery in Hanoi (May 14–18), and Tam Chúc Monastery in Hà Nam Province (May 18–21).
Coinciding with UN Vesak Day 2025, themed “Buddhist Approach to Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity,” the exposition will draw international delegates from over 100 countries. The IBC will also host three exhibitions showcasing the spread of Buddha Dhamma, including digital restorations of Ajanta Cave murals, Jataka tales, and a comparative study of Indian and Vietnamese Buddhist artifacts.