Over 90,000 Devotees Attend Buddha Relics Exposition In Russia Before Return To India | India News

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha returned to India from Russia on Monday with relics of Lord Buddha after a week-long public exhibition in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia, the only Buddhist-majority region in Europe.

Held from October 11 to 18 at the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery, also known as the “Golden House of Shakyamuni Buddha”, the exhibition attracted more than 90,000 devotees and was hailed as a historic gathering of faiths that highlighted the common Buddhist heritage and strengthened cultural ties between India and Russia.

Lord Buddha’s relics returned home after a week-long exhibition in Kalmykia, Russia. The fair underlined our commitment to improving mutual understanding, building trust and cooperation, and creating lasting connections through shared spiritual experiences. pic.twitter.com/GYjAEGKfaQ — LG J&K Office (@OfficeOfLGJandK) October 19, 2025

Recognized as the National Treasure of India, the relics were brought to Elista by a high-level Indian delegation led by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya along with senior Indian priests. The delegation organized special religious ceremonies and blessing ceremonies for the people of Kalmykia, the only region in Europe with a Buddhist majority.

This landmark exhibition, the first of its kind in the Russian Republic, highlighted the enduring cultural and civilizational ties between India and Russia. Also celebrated was the legacy of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche 19, the revered Buddhist monk and diplomat from Ladakh who played an important role in the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia and the revival of interest in Buddha Dharma in Russian regions such as Kalmykia, Buryatia and Tuva.