Over 50,000 Devotees Pay Homage to Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha in Russia’s Kalmykia

October 18, 2025

Kalmykia (Russia): A wave of spiritual devotion swept through Kalmykia, Russia, as more than 50,000 devotees gathered to pay homage to the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha brought from India.

The rare exposition, hosted at the Geden Sheddup Choikorling Monastery — popularly known as the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha — has drawn an unprecedented response from the region’s predominantly Buddhist population.

A Historic Exposition

According to an official statement from India’s Ministry of Culture, the relics — recognised as a National Treasure of India — were brought to Kalmykia’s capital, Elista, by a high-level Indian delegation led by Keshav Prasad Maurya, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, accompanied by senior monks.

The delegation is conducting special prayers and blessings for the local Buddhist community. The exposition, which began on October 11, marks the first-ever display of Buddha’s Sacred Relics in the Republic of Kalmykia.

A Sea of Devotion

“Today, a queue of devotees stretched nearly one kilometre from the monastery, highlighting the profound resonance of this event,” the statement said.

The Golden Abode, one of Europe’s largest Tibetan Buddhist centres, opened in 1996 in the vast Kalmyk steppe and has since become a spiritual landmark. Since the exposition began, the monastery has witnessed a continuous stream of pilgrims, reflecting the deep reverence for the relics.

Strengthening India–Russia Cultural Ties

Officials described the event as a testament to the enduring civilizational and spiritual bonds between India and Russia.

“It revives the legacy of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the revered monk and diplomat from Ladakh who played a pivotal role in reviving Buddhism in Mongolia and Russian regions such as Kalmykia, Buryatia, and Tuva,” the statement noted.

Organisers and Collaborators

The event has been organised by the BTI section of India’s Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the National Museum, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).