The sacred Kapilavastu Relics – believed to contain remains of Buddha Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism – were brought to Russia’s Republic of Kalmykia on Saturday on a special Air Force flight. The relics will be displayed in Elista, the regional capital, for a week, marking a new step in strengthening cultural and spiritual ties between India and Russia.

The exhibition is part of a cultural initiative organized by India’s Ministry of Culture, the International Buddhist Confederation, the National Museum of India and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, local authorities told RT.

The delegation was led by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and included the 43rd Sakya Trizin Rinpoche, head of the Sakya Buddhist order, along with scholars and monks. They were received by the head of Kalmykia, Batu Khasikov, and head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia, Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, Geshe Tenzin Choidak. India’s ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, also took part in the ceremony.

“Elista is one of Russia’s spiritual centers, and this honor from India is a significant event,” Khasikov said. “It reflects the continuing dialogue between our nations based on mutual respect and shared cultural heritage.”

India will also donate replicas of 16 Buddhist artifacts – stone statues and bas-reliefs from the 2nd to 11th centuries – as well as copies of ancient Sanskrit manuscripts of Buddhist texts. The replicas will become part of the permanent collection at the Palmova Museum.

During the visit, the Indian delegation will also present the Kangyur – a 108-volume collection of Buddhist scriptures in Mongolian – to Kalmyk State University and Troitsky Khurul Monastery.

The visit follows the Third International Buddhist Forum, held in Elista last month under the patronage of President Vladimir Putin, which drew more than 7,000 participants from 35 countries, including India, Nepal, China, Bangladesh, and other countries.

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