BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is set to be connected with India’s Buddhist Tourism Circuit as part of a comprehensive initiative to promote the State’s rich Buddhist heritage and strengthen spiritual tourism, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said at the International Buddhist Conference held at Udayagiri. The conference is being organised in conjunction with the second Guru Padmasambhava Prayer Ceremony and is witnessing wide participation from India and abroad.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Parida said the event would play a crucial role in developing Buddhist tourism while spreading the universal message of peace, compassion, and harmony. She noted that Odisha has historically followed a spiritual path and that the State Government is committed to preserving and revitalising its ancient Buddhist legacy through sustained, structured efforts.
The Deputy Chief Minister announced that the government is preparing an integrated development plan focused on heritage conservation, infrastructure enhancement, and modern historical research of major Buddhist sites, including Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, Udayagiri, Jirang, and Dhauli. She said special emphasis is being placed on linking Odisha with the national Buddhist Tourism Circuit to enhance global visibility and facilitate pilgrim and tourist movement. To rejuvenate the State’s Buddhist cultural heritage, the government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Light of Buddha Foundation. A dedicated expert committee is also being constituted to guide policy, research, and development initiatives related to Buddhism. Additionally, steps have been initiated to develop the Jirang Mahavihara, she added.
Culture, Odia Language, Literature and Tourism Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, speaking on the occasion, said the Guru Padmasambhava Prayer Ceremony has significantly contributed to the dissemination of Buddhist teachings and the promotion of Odisha’s Buddhist heritage on a global platform. He noted that a large number of Buddhist devotees, monks, scholars, and tourists from across the country and overseas have participated in the event. The Minister highlighted that Odisha holds strong historical evidence linking the State to Guru Padmasambhava and the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition. He said several lesser-known aspects of Buddhist history in Odisha are now being brought to light through scholarly research, and congratulated researchers on their efforts to uncover and present these hidden chapters.
The International Buddhist Conference, which runs through January 16, has attracted more than 1,700 Buddhist followers, monks, scholars, and tourists from India and abroad. On the occasion, dignitaries released the Udayagiri Souvenir and a collection of books on Buddhism and heritage, marking an important contribution to academic and cultural literature.
A scholarly discussion session on the historical links between Odisha and Guru Padmasambhava was also held. The discussions explored Odisha’s role in the spread of Vajrayana Buddhism and examined historical evidence suggesting that Guru Padmasambhava attained Mahaparinirvana at Udayagiri.
The event concluded with an evening cultural programme showcasing Odisha’s rich artistic traditions. Among those present were Barachana MLA Amar Kumar Nayak, Tourism Director Dipankar Mahapatra, Jajpur District Collector Ambar Kumar Kar, Buddhist Guru Jigme Rinpoche from Jirang, Head of the Light of Buddha Foundation Wangmo Dixey, and senior officials from the Departments of Culture and Tourism, district administration, and tourism development agencies.
