• The Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi will be holding an exposition of Holy Relics of Lord Buddha enshrined at Sarnath for the first time in Vietnam during the gala celebrations of the UN Day of Vesak in May.

• The relics will be ceremonially brought to Delhi on April 30 from Mulagandha Kuti Vihara (monastery) in Sarnath.

• On May 1, the Holy Relics will be transported from the National Museum with great reverence and escorted by senior monks with full religious sanctity and protocol to Ho Chi Minh City by a special Indian Air Force aircraft.

• The sacred relics will be ceremoniously enshrined, venerated, and worshipped at several important sites in Vietnam.

• These relics of the Buddha, enshrined in Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, were excavated in Nagarjunakonda, a prominent site in Andhra Pradesh. 

• It holds historical significance as a major centre of Mahayana Buddhism and is associated with the monk, philosopher Nagarjuna of second century CE. These were worshipped and venerated for ages since the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha. 

• A.H. Longhurst, the then superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), conducted full scale excavation from 1927-31. Most of the monuments at the site were constructed in 3rd-4th century CE as remains of more than 30 Buddhist establishments were found. Inscriptions date the oldest great Stupa around 246 CE but archaeologists say the Stupa could be older.

• After the excavations, they were presented to the Mahabodhi Society of India on December 27, 1932, by Rai Bahadur Dayaram Sahni, Director General of ASI, on behalf of the Viceroy of India before a distinguished gathering of Buddhists. 

• Mulagandha Kuti Vihara is enshrined with the sacred relics of Sakyamuni Buddha. It was built by Angarika Dharmapala, who was the founder of Mahabodhi Society, and is still maintained and run by the Mahabodhi Society.

• Every year on the foundation day of the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, which is celebrated in the month of November, thousands of people from different parts of the world come to Sarnath.

UN Day of Vesak

• Vesak, the day of the full moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world.

• The important upcoming exposition coincides with the UN Day of Vesak as it is being celebrated in Vietnam, an opportunity for not only the citizens of Vietnam to seek blessings of the Holy Relics but also for the international delegates from over 100 countries and regions who would be participating in the Vesak Day celebrations.

• Every year, since the passing of the resolution by the United Nations General Assembly on December 15, 1999, the thrice-sacred day of Vesak (celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and passing away of Gautama Buddha) has been celebrated internationally.

• The International Day of Vesak was celebrated at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the first time in 2000. This had inspired annual celebrations of the UN Day of Vesak (UNDV) by international Buddhist communities.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)