Sumana Mukherjee 

Milllions of admirers paid homage to  the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mogallana when it  arrived in Chiang Mai from India.

India played the most distinctive role  in lending  the Holy  Relics of  the Lord to Thailand. 

Holy Relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mogallana arrived in Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand, for exposition. Sacred relics were received by the Governor of Chiang Mai along with Consul of India and other dignitaries. pic.twitter.com/nCTbu9WV1n

— India in Thailand (@IndiainThailand) March 4, 2024

The Holy Relics were enshrined today for public veneration at the specially built Mandapam at Sanam Luang Pavilion in Bangkok with great reverence and amidst Holy Chanting.

Nepal, the birth place of Lord Gautama Buddha is revered all over the world for its sacredness. India is the place where Lord Buddha had spent the maximum period of his life and achieved Bodhi -the ultimate wisdom and disseminated his valuable sermons among his disciple in Sarnath, Varanasi.

Buddhism as a religion is practised mainly in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a significant religion in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Darjeeling in West Bengal, and the Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh. Presently, around 8.5 million Buddhists live in India.

The Governor of Bihar Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar handed over the Holy Relics of Buddha to Thai Prime Minister (Chairman), Mr Srettha Thavisin, while those of Arahants Sariputra & Maha Maudgalayana were handed over by Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar to the Thai Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Somsak Thepsutin and Thai Culture Minister for enshrining in the mandapa.

In an official post on X, the Indian Embassy in Thailand said, "Holy Relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mogallana arrived in Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand, for exposition.
"Sacred relics were received by the Governor of Chiang Mai along with Consul of India and other dignitaries," the tweet added.

The arrival of the sacred relics was met with reverence as the Governor of Chiang Mai, alongside the Consul of India and other dignitaries, received the relics in a solemn ceremony. The presence of such revered artifacts symbolizes the deep spiritual and historical ties between India and Thailand.

India, the birth place of Lord Gautama Buddha is revered all over the world for its sacredness. Buddhism as a religion is practised mainly in the foothills of the Himalayas and is a significant religion in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Darjeeling in West Bengal, and the Lahaul and Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh. Presently, around 8.5 million Buddhists live in India.

As the relics find their temporary abode in Chiang Mai, they serve as a beacon of peace, wisdom, and enlightenment, inspiring countless individuals on their spiritual journeys and reinforcing the enduring bond between India and Thailand.

On Sunday EAM Jaishankar posted on social media X, states, "Deeply moved to see a million Thai devotees pay respects to the Buddhist Holy Relics which travelled from India. Our shared heritage and culture is a bridge that creates a special bond. Thank @MinOfCultureGoI, @IndiainThailand & @IbcWorldOrg for their efforts,"

Deeply moved to see a million Thai devotees pay respects to the Buddhist Holy Relics which travelled from India.

Our shared heritage and culture is a bridge that creates a special bond.

Thank @MinOfCultureGoI, @IndiainThailand & @IbcWorldOrg for their efforts. pic.twitter.com/BXdnOKEXrl

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) March 3, 2024

The Indian Embassy in Thailand on social media X, posted, "Sun sets on the final day of the exposition of holy relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples in Sanam Luang, Bangkok. Thousands of devotees gather to pay homage to the sacred relics from India."

According to the Thai officials, around 1,45,834 people paid their respects to the relics on Saturday.

Sun sets on the final day of the exposition of holy relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples in Sanam Luang, Bangkok. Thousands of devotees gather to pay homage to the sacred relics from India. #GangaMekongHolyRelicsDhammayatra. @MEAIndia @MinOfCultureGoI @IbcWorldOrg @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/7plUIq6QAX

— India in Thailand (@IndiainThailand) March 3, 2024

To commemorate the auspicious sixth cycle and the 72nd birth year of King Rama X and as a mark of friendship between the people of India and Thailand, the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his disciples, Arahant Sariputta, and Arahant Maha Moggallana reached Thailand from India on February 22 on a special Indian Air Force plane.

The relics, which are on a 25-day exposition in four cities of Thailand were enshrined for public veneration at a specially built mandapam at Sanam Luang Royal Palace ground in Bangkok.

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As per the schedule, the relics will now travel to Chiang Mai and will stay there from March 4-8. It will be followed by expositions in Ubon Ratchathani (March 9-13) and Krabi (March 14-18).