Indian ambassador moved by Vietnamese devotion to Buddha relic

Ambassador Arya shared that the Indian government and people were delighted by the profound spiritual response and respect demonstrated by the Vietnamese public.

India regards the relic of the Buddha as a national treasure, offering it the utmost protection and reverence.

The sacred relic was transported to Vietnam with the highest ceremonial honors aboard a military aircraft, accompanied by an Indian minister.

Approximately 1.8 million Vietnamese people venerated the relic while it was in Ho Chi Minh City.

In Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam, around 125,000 followers made the journey to Ba Den Mountain over a four-day period to pay homage to the relic.

In Hanoi, the flow of visitors to Quan Su Pagoda is so great that organizers are keeping the venue open throughout the night to accommodate Buddhists.

Ambassador Arya noted that the number of people venerating the relic in Vietnam was comparable to the figures recorded in other countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Mongolia during previous tours of the relic.

He also spoke of being personally moved by stories of Vietnamese pilgrims, with some waiting for three hours under harsh weather just for a brief moment of reverence.

Such stories showed deep spiritual commitment and enduring faith.

The Indian ambassador emphasized that the spiritual faith plays an important role in offering peace and clarity in today’s complex and ever-changing world.

After being enshrined inside Quan Su Pagoda, the relic will be transferred to Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam Province, a neighbor of Hanoi, on Saturday.

The public will be able to pay their respects from Saturday until Tuesday next week, before the sacred item is returned to India.