Piprahwa Relics from India welcomed in Europe's only Buddhist Republic

In a moment charged with history and devotion, the sacred Piprahwa Relics of the Buddha — bone fragments discovered in 1898 at Piprahwa — were displayed in Elista, the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia, for their first-ever public exposition in Russia. The week-long event, held from October 11-18.

- BY DON DE SILVA

In a Facebook post, India’s Ministry of Culture, witnessed an "unprecedented turnout" to venerate the Relics.

The Relics, venerated as among the remains of the Buddha, were transported from the National Museum of India under the supervision of a high-level delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh., India, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, accompanied by Vinay Kumar, India’s Ambassador to Russia, and senior monks of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).

The holy relics were received at Elista Airport by Batu Sergeyevich Khasikov, Head of the Republic of Kalmykia, together with the Shajin Lama of the Kalmyk people, Geshe Tenzin Choidak, Ambassador Vinay Kumar, and senior clergy of the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery — the “Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha.”

The Relics were solemnly enshrined at the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery.

“A center of spiritual development of world significance”