J&K Lieutenant Governor Visits Russia to Retrieve Holy Relics of Lord Buddha

Shri Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasized that the exposition of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha in Kalmykia will deepen the cultural and spiritual bonds between India and Russia. Speaking to the media after paying homage at the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery, known as the “Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha,” he described the event as a historic moment for the Kalmyk people, Europe’s only Buddhist-majority nation. The exposition symbolizes a spiritual bridge between the two nations, highlighting India’s commitment to fostering cultural connections through the universal teachings of Lord Buddha.

During the visit, Shri Sinha performed traditional rituals, offering a “Khatak” to the Holy Relics, lighting a lamp at the monastery, and presenting a Kashmiri shawl to Shajin Lama while receiving blessings. He also offered prayers before the revered Bakula Rinpoche.

On Friday, Shri Sinha arrived in Elista, the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia, to escort the Holy Relics back to India after their week-long exposition. Leading the Indian delegation, he was warmly welcomed by Tserenov Erdni Nikolayevich, First Deputy Chairman of the Kalmyk Government, Deputy Chairman Dzhambinov Ochir Vladimirovich, and India’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Shri Nikhilesh Giri. The delegation is set to return to India with the relics on October 19, 2025.

In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor’s office shared, “Shri Manoj Sinha is leading a delegation to Kalmykia, Russia, to bring back the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha after their exposition. He extends heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for this sacred responsibility. ‘Om Mamo Buddhaya’.”

The exposition has witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 90,000 devotees paying their respects at the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery. The relics, a National Treasure of India, were brought to Elista by a high-level delegation led by Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, accompanied by senior Indian monks. The delegation has been conducting special religious services for Kalmykia’s predominantly Buddhist population.

This historic event, the first of its kind in Kalmykia, underscores the deep civilizational ties between India and Russia. It also honors the legacy of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a revered Ladakhi monk and diplomat who played a pivotal role in reviving Buddhism in Mongolia and Russian regions like Kalmykia, Buryatia, and Tuva.

Organized by the BTI section of India’s Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the National Museum, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), the exposition will conclude on October 18, 2025, in Elista.