A significant spiritual event saw over 90,000 devotees gather in Elista, Russia, for a public exposition of Lord Buddha’s sacred relics. The relics were subsequently returned to India after the successful week-long display at the ‘Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha’ monastery. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was part of the delegation that brought the holy items back to India. The exposition, spanning October 11-18, was a monumental success in Kalmykia, Europe’s only Buddhist-majority region, emphasizing shared spiritual heritage and bolstering cultural ties between India and Russia. The National Treasure of India’s relics had arrived in Elista via a high-level delegation, including senior Indian monks, who conducted special blessings for the local community. This first-ever exhibition of its kind in the Russian Republic celebrated the historic civilizational connections and the enduring influence of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, credited with revitalizing Buddhism in regions such as Kalmykia, Buryatia, and Tuva.
