Manoj Sinha Leads Delegation to Russia to Bring Back Holy Relics of Lord Buddha

Elista, Kalmykia / New Delhi , 18 October 2025- Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has arrived in Russia to lead the Indian delegation tasked with bringing back the revered Holy Relics of Lord Buddha to India. The relics were on display in Kalmykia for a week-long exposition that drew tens of thousands of devotees, marking a significant cultural and spiritual exchange between India and Russia.

Speaking to reporters after paying homage at the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery—popularly known as the “Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha”—Sinha said the exposition reflects a deep civilizational bond between the two nations.

“The display of these sacred relics in Kalmykia represents a spiritual homecoming for the Kalmyk people, the only Buddhist-majority community in Europe. It has become a living bridge of cultural friendship between India and Russia,” he remarked.

During his visit, Sinha offered prayers, presented the traditional “Khatak” scarf before the relics and Bakula Rinpoche’s image, and lit ceremonial lamps. He also gifted a Kashmiri shawl to Shajin Lama and received blessings in return.

The Lieutenant Governor and his delegation were welcomed by senior Kalmyk officials, including First Deputy Chairman Tserenov Erdni Nikolayevich and Deputy Chairman Dzhambinov Ochir Vladimirovich, along with India’s Deputy Chief of Mission Nikhilesh Giri. The delegation will accompany the sacred relics back to India on October 19, 2025.

Earlier in the day, Sinha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with this religious responsibility. In a post on X, he wrote about his journey to Kalmykia to lead the delegation, calling the experience “a sacred opportunity.”

The week-long exposition attracted more than 90,000 devotees, underscoring the profound reverence for the Buddha’s legacy in Kalmykia. The relics, considered a national treasure of India, were earlier brought to Elista by a delegation led by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and senior monks, who conducted special prayers for the Buddhist community of the region.

This historic exhibition is the first of its kind in Kalmykia and highlights the spiritual ties dating back to the influence of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the Ladakhi monk-diplomat who revived Buddhist traditions in parts of Russia and Mongolia.

The event has been jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the National Museum, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The exposition concluded on October 18, 2025.