The North News
New Delhi, October 18
An unprecedented spiritual gathering has taken place in Republic of Kalmykia, as the Sacred Relics of Gautama Buddha from India attracted more than 50,000 devotees. The relics are on display at the revered Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery — popularly known as the “Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha” — in Elista, Kalmykia’s capital.
The relics, recognised as a National Treasure of India, were brought by a high-level Indian delegation led by Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, along with senior monks. The team is conducting special blessings and religious ceremonies for Kalmykia’s Buddhist-majority population — unique in Europe.
Since the exposition began on 11 October, the monastery has witnessed continuous streams of pilgrims, with queues stretching up to a kilometre. The Golden Abode, a major Tibetan Buddhist centre inaugurated in 1996, has become a focal point of devotion and cultural exchange.
The historic exposition — the first of its kind in Kalmykia — reflects the deep civilizational bond between India and Russia. It also revives the spiritual legacy of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the Ladakhi monk-diplomat credited with reviving Buddhism in Mongolia and sparking renewed interest in Buddha Dharma across Russian regions including Kalmykia, Buryatia and Tuva.
The event has been jointly organised by the BTI section of the Ministry of Culture, International Buddhist Confederation, National Museum, and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
The exposition will continue until 18 October 2025. Officials described it as a powerful symbol of shared Buddhist heritage and the enduring spiritual bond between the peoples of India and Russia.
