The sacred relic of Shakyamuni Buddha, enshrined in the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara of Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, arrived in Vietnam on May 2, 2025, as part of the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations. Escorted by a high-level delegation from India led by Union Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, the arrival of the relic marks an unprecedented event in Buddhist diplomacy and cultural exchange between India and Vietnam.
The holy relic, believed to be older than 246 CE and originally excavated from Nagarjuna Konda in present-day Andhra Pradesh, is considered one of the most sacred symbols of Buddhism. Its exposition in Vietnam is intended not only to celebrate Vesak—the day commemorating Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana—but also to deepen the spiritual bonds between two ancient Asian civilizations linked through centuries of Buddhist history and heritage.
The sacred relic, or sarira, was transported on a specially designated Indian Air Force C-130J-30 aircraft from New Delhi to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, traversing a distance of approximately 5,100 kilometers. Upon landing at 7:40 a.m., the relic was received with full ceremonial honor at the airport by senior Vietnamese dignitaries, Buddhist monks, and the local Indian diplomatic mission.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) hosted a grand reception, attended by key figures such as Minister Dao Ngoc Dung and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Duong Ngoc Hai. Outside the airport, hundreds of Vietnamese citizens gathered with Buddhist flags and flowers, chanting prayers and offering incense as they awaited the sacred relic’s ceremonial procession.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, visibly moved by the warm reception, described the journey as a deeply spiritual and humbling experience. “This sacred mission symbolizes the eternal message of peace and compassion that Bhagwan Buddha preached,” he said. “It is a privilege to represent Bharat and to bring this holy relic to Vietnam, a nation that has always embraced the Buddhist way of life with deep devotion.”
After the ceremonial reception, the relic was taken to the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, the main venue for the 20th UN Vesak Day celebrations, where it was placed in the Buddha Hall for prayers by senior monks and dignitaries. Later, it was carried in a grand public procession to Thanh Tam Pagoda in Binh Chanh district.
Thousands lined the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, many kneeling in devotion as the vehicle carrying the relic passed by. The vehicle was ornately decorated with Buddhist symbols, floral arrangements, and traditional dragon motifs. The relic itself was encased in a transparent glass container placed atop a small, intricately designed tower—a symbol of enlightenment and sanctity.
From May 3 to 8, the relic will be on public display at Thanh Tam Pagoda for devotees to offer prayers and pay homage.
Following the initial public exposition in Ho Chi Minh City, the relics will be taken on a 20-day journey across Vietnam, visiting key Buddhist pilgrimage sites and cultural centers. The itinerary includes:
- Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area in Tay Ninh Province — one of southern Vietnam’s most sacred mountains and pilgrimage destinations.
- Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi — the official headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
- Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam Province — one of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia and the venue for the 2019 UN Vesak celebrations.
- This spiritual tour will culminate on May 21, after which the relic will return to India.
UN Vesak 2025: A Global Buddhist Convergence
The sacred relic’s arrival coincides with the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025, set to take place from May 6 to 8 in Ho Chi Minh City. The event, themed “Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development,” is expected to draw over 1,200 international delegates from 85 countries, including monks, heads of state, scholars, and diplomats.
India’s participation, especially through the gifting of the sacred relic, underscores its role as the spiritual homeland of Buddhism and its commitment to fostering peaceful global dialogues rooted in Buddhist teachings. It also serves as a testament to India’s cultural diplomacy and the Indian government’s efforts to revive and promote its ancient civilizational ties through the platform of Buddhism.
Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), emphasized the cultural resonance of the relic’s exposition in Vietnam. “For the Vietnamese Buddhist community, this relic is not merely a sacred object—it represents the living presence of the Buddha. This gesture reaffirms the unbroken connection between Bharat and Vietnam,” he said.
Halder also announced plans for a comparative cultural exhibition showcasing Buddhist artifacts from both countries, highlighting similarities between relics from India’s 2nd and 3rd centuries CE and those found in ancient Vietnamese temples and archaeological sites. This exhibition will further shed light on the shared spiritual and artistic legacies that connect the two nations.
This is the first time that India has sent the sacred relic of the Buddha to Vietnam—a country where nearly 80 per cent of the population identifies with Buddhism or Buddhist practices. The decision to send this sacred national treasure is part of India’s broader strategy to foster regional harmony and people-to-people ties through spiritual and cultural channels.
