Vietnam: Over 1 lakh devotees pay homage to sacred relics of lord buddha at Thanh Tam Pagoda

Vietnam: Over one lakh devotees have offered heartfelt homage to the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, currently enshrined at Thanh Tam Pagoda within the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City's Binh Chanh District.

The revered relics were brought from India by an official delegation led by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Andhra Pradesh Minister Shri Kandula Durgesh, accompanied by senior monks and officials.

Since dawn, the stupa housing the relics—designated as a National Treasure of India—has witnessed a steady stream of devotees. A three-kilometer-long queue formed on Saturday, highlighting the deep spiritual connection and devotion of the Vietnamese people.

The Sacred Relics include a fragment of Lord Buddha’s (Shakyamuni) skull bone, unearthed in 1898 by British archaeologist William Claxton Peppe in Kapilavastu, near the India-Nepal border. They are enshrined in a gold-plated stupa, crafted by Thai artisans in 1997, adorned with 109 grams of gold at its peak—symbolizing global reverence for the Buddha.

Flown in aboard an Indian Air Force aircraft, the relics arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on May 2, 2025, and were ceremoniously escorted to Thanh Tam Pagoda. Their public display is being conducted under tight security, underscoring their sacred and diplomatic significance, comparable to that of a state leader’s visit.

The Holy Relics will remain in Vietnam until May 21, 2025, as part of the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations. During their stay, they will be taken to major Buddhist sites including Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area (Tay Ninh), Quan Su Pagoda (Hanoi), and Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam), enhancing spiritual and cultural ties between India and Vietnam.

The UN Day of Vesak 2025, themed “Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development,” will be observed from May 6–8. The global event is expected to draw over 1,200 delegates from 85 countries and territories, including world leaders, religious figures, and scholars.

India’s involvement in this historic occasion highlights the deep-rooted civilizational ties and shared Buddhist heritage between India and Vietnam.