“In a significant cultural and spiritual achievement, the sacred relics of Lord Buddha arrived in the capital Elista from India by a special Indian Air Force aircraft sunday, marking the beginning of an eight-day exhibition in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia”
New Delhi 13/10 2025 Report By Santosh Seth
A high-level delegation of senior Indian monks has also arrived with the sacred relics of Lord Buddha, who will bless local devotees and conduct religious services for the region’s predominantly Buddhist population.
Led by the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, the delegation will host a host of other activities during the week.
These include teachings and discourses by His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, head of the Sakya sect; and the presentation of the sacred ‘Kanjur’, a set of 108 volumes of Mongolian religious texts originally translated from the Tibetan language.
The Kanjur will be presented by the IBC to nine Buddhist institutions and one university, belonging to the Manuscript Division of the Ministry of Culture.
The sacred relics were received by the Head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia, Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, Geshe Tenzin Choidak, Head of the Republic of Kalmykia Mr. Batu Sergeyevich Khasikov and other distinguished Buddhist Sangha members.
It is noteworthy that it was the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a revered Buddhist monk and diplomat from Ladakh, who played a key role in reviving Buddhism in Mongolia and subsequently, in reviving interest in Buddhism in three regions of Russia, namely Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva.
The exhibition of sacred relics, being held for the first time in the Russian Federation, is being organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the National Museum, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). It is being held in the capital, Elista, from October 11-18, 2025.
The sacred relics will be enshrined at Elista’s main Buddhist monastery, known as Geden Shedup Choekorling Monastery. Also known as the “Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha,” it is an important Tibetan Buddhist center, opened to the public in 1996 and surrounded by the Kalmyk steppes.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed between the Central Buddhist Spiritual Administration and the International Buddhist Confederation.
A unique exhibition of Buddhist postage stamps prepared by Mr. Vinod Kumar of Dharwad, Karnataka, will also be showcased, featuring stamps from approximately 90 countries.
Another exhibition, “The Sacred Legacy of the Sakyas: Excavation and Display of Buddha’s Relics,” will be presented by the IBC through panel displays.
It traces the remarkable journey of the Buddha’s relics from their ancient enshrinement to their rediscovery. It begins with a map depicting Piprahwa, identified with the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the capital of the Sakya dynasty.
These panels introduce visitors to India’s sacred geography of the Buddha’s final days and the regions that preserve the legacy of his timeless teachings.
An exhibition on “Bodhicitta” – Treasures of Buddhist Art, by the National Museum of India and the National Mission for Manuscripts in India, will also be on display at the venue.
It offers visitors a unique opportunity to deeply connect with India’s rich Buddhist cultural heritage, dating back more than two millennia.
Kalmykia is a region characterized by vast grasslands, although it also includes desert areas, and is located in the southwestern part of Russia’s European territory, bordering the Caspian Sea.
The Kalmyks are descendants of Oirat Mongols who migrated from western Mongolia in the early 17th century. Their history is deeply intertwined with a nomadic lifestyle, which has influenced their culture.
They are the only ethnic group in Europe that practices Mahayana Buddhism. The Third International Buddhist Forum of Kalmykia was held in the capital, Elista, from September 24-28, 2025.