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New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) At the request of the Royal Government of Bhutan, India’s ongoing exhibition of sacred relics of Lord Buddha in Thimphu has been officially extended by a week, an official said on Monday.
The exhibition, which has attracted thousands of devout pilgrims, will now continue till November 25, the culture ministry said in a statement.
To facilitate the return of the holy relics, a special aircraft will depart for Bhutan on November 24. The holy relics will be brought back to India the next day.
The delegation for this important closing ceremony will be led by Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju.
The expansion of the exhibition underlines the deep cultural and spiritual ties between India and Bhutan and reflects the immense public reverence that the exhibition has received from the people of Bhutan, the statement said.
The immense devotion of the people of Bhutan is a testament to our shared spiritual heritage. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is honored to accept Bhutan’s request, allowing more devotees to seek the blessings, the statement said.
This event has further strengthened the eternal ties of friendship and mutual respect between our two countries.
The exhibition has been a landmark event in India-Bhutan relations, celebrating the shared Buddhist heritage and strengthening the special bond of trust and cooperation.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to seek blessings from the holy relics of Lord Buddha amid a rousing welcome by local monks at Tashichodzong in Thimphu.
The Indian relics, which are currently housed in the Grand Kuenre Hall of Tashichhodzong, have been sent for exhibition as a special gesture to Bhutan on behalf of the people of India to honor the 70th birth anniversary of the fourth King and the Global Peace Prayer Festival organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined His Majesty the King of Bhutan and received blessings from the sacred relics of Lord Buddha. Accompanied by chanting monks, he offered prayers to the sacred relics,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on Twitter.
Buddhism is a shared heritage between India and Bhutan. Several Bhutanese pilgrims travel to Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sikkim, Udayagiri, Sarnath and other Buddhist sites in India.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan, Je Khenpo presided over the bhumi pujan ceremony for the construction of the Bhutanese temple in Rajgir. The temple was formally consecrated in September this year. The statue of Zhabdrung – an eminent figure in Bhutan, considered the founder of the Bhutanese nation – is currently on exhibition at Simtokha Dzong in Bhutan, on loan by the Asiatic Society, Kolkata.
–IANS
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