In a momentous cultural and spiritual event, sacred relics of Gautama Buddha arrived in Elista, the capital of Russia’s Kalmykia Republic, on Saturday. The holy relics were flown in by an Indian Air Force aircraft and ceremonially enshrined at the Geden Shedrup Choikorling Monastery.
The Indian delegation was led by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, accompanied by 11 senior monks, including the 43rd Sakya Trizin, Gyana Vajra Rinpoche.
The week-long exposition, taking place from October 11 to 18, marks a significant milestone in India–Russia cultural diplomacy, highlighting the nations’ shared Buddhist heritage.
Kalmykia — known as Europe’s only Buddhist-majority region — will host a series of religious ceremonies, cultural programs, and interfaith dialogues centered around the relics. The event aims to deepen people-to-people ties while celebrating the universal message of peace and compassion propagated by Lord Buddha.