New Delhi, 11 October 2025 – Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, accompanied by a high-level Indian delegation of 11 senior Buddhist monks led by His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin, Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, has arrived in Elista, the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia. They have brought with them the revered Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha.
Buddhism in Russia
Transported by an Indian Air Force aircraft, the divine heritage will be on public exhibition from 11 to 18 October 2025 in the city. The Ministry of Culture announced that the exposition aims to bless local devotees and offer religious services to the region’s predominantly Buddhist population. This historic event marks the very first public display of Lord Buddha’s relics in the Russian Republic of Kalmykia, further strengthening the Indo-Russian Relations.
Cultural Diplomacy Blossoms with Buddha’s Relics
The event is being organised jointly by the Ministry of Culture, the International Buddhist Confederation, the National Museum, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. The Ministry also highlighted that a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed between the Central Spiritual Administration of Buddhists and the International Buddhist Confederation as part of the occasion, further strengthening India-Russia cultural ties and spiritual collaboration.
Deepening Indo-Russian Relations
The Buddhist Relics in Russia symbolize a deep spiritual and cultural bond between India and Russia. Furthermore, the arrival of these relics highlights centuries-old shared heritage and mutual respect between the two nations.
