22 Miss World contestants visit Buddhavanam for Buddha Purnima celebrations

Hyderabad: As part of the celebrations for Buddha Purnima, 22 contestants from the Asia-Oceania Group 4 of the Miss World 2025 pageant visited Buddhavanam, a Buddhist-themed park at Nagarjuna Sagar, on Monday.

Contestants from countries including India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Turkey, China, Thailand and Armenia participated in the event.

The visit aimed to highlight Telangana’s rich Buddhist heritage while giving contestants a glimpse into India’s spiritual and cultural diversity.

Spiritual ceremonies fostering cultural exchange

As part of the visit, the contestants took part in a spiritual ceremony near the Buddha statues within the stupa at Buddhavanam. Prayers were conducted according to the customs and traditions of each representative’s country, fostering a sense of cultural exchange and mutual respect.

The event showcased the global reach of Buddhism and its influence across various nations represented by the contestants.

Travel arrangements and stopover

Officials from the Telangana Tourism Department facilitated the journey, arranging a special bus to transport the contestants from Hyderabad to Nagarjuna Sagar. On the way, the group made a brief stop at a guest house near Chintapalli in Nalgonda district. The contestants rested at the Vijay Vihar tourism complex, participated in a photo session and then continued their journey to Buddhavanam.

Promoting Telangana Tourism

The visit was part of the Telangana government’s efforts to promote State tourism through global events like Miss World 2025. The initiative was aimed at showcasing Telangana’s historical and cultural sites to a global audience.

Officials confirmed that all necessary arrangements were completed in advance to ensure a smooth visit for the Miss World contestants.