India is not just the land of Buddha’s birth—it is the steward of his universal message of non-violence, mindfulness, and the Middle Path, said Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, during the grand celebration of Vaishakha Buddha Purnima 2025 at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
The spiritually significant event, organized by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), marked the Triple Blessed Day—commemorating the Birth, Enlightenment, and Mahāparinirvāna of Lord Buddha—with solemnity, cultural richness, and deep reverence.
Minister Shekhawat highlighted India’s leading role in preserving and promoting Buddhist heritage globally. “Through initiatives like the exposition of Holy Buddha Relics to countries including Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, India continues to build bridges of spiritual and cultural unity,” he noted. Over 1.8 million people in Vietnam have paid homage to these sacred relics in just ten days, underscoring the profound resonance of the Dhamma.
Guest of Honour, Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs, stressed Buddha’s universal wisdom. “One need not be Buddhist to follow the Buddha,” he said. Echoing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s peace-centric vision, Rijiju remarked that India has given the world Buddha, not war, yet stands ready to safeguard peace through strength if needed.
The event saw participation from over 600 attendees, including monks, nuns, diplomats, Buddhist scholars, and lay practitioners. Ambassadors from Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka were felicitated, alongside dignitaries from Laos, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, and Cambodia.
IBC Secretary General, Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche, recited Sanskrit verses extolling the Buddha’s 47 virtues, while IBC Director General Abhijit Halder commended the government’s recent successful intervention to halt the auction of sacred Piprahwa relics.
Scholars and monastics engaged in a compelling panel discussion on “Application of Buddha Dhamma in Conflict Resolution,” while Ven. Gyaltsen Samten delivered an impassioned address on moral courage and inner peace. The evening featured a devotional chanting of the Ratana Sutta by Ms. Subhadra Desai and a stirring cultural performance by Guru Alpana Nayak and troupe, rounding off the day with a celebration of art, spirit, and shared humanity.
