Union Minister of Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, addressed the opening ceremony of the United Nations Day of Vesak in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday. The event was also attended by the President of Vietnam, Luong Cuong; the President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake; the Sanghraja of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Thich Tri Quang; and other dignitaries, as per a release from the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Tuesday.
Delivering a message on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rijiju extended warm greetings and highlighted the relevance of Lord Buddha’s timeless teachings in addressing contemporary global challenges. He emphasized that India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) — which promotes awareness of the environmental impact of individual actions — is deeply inspired by Buddhist principles.
Rijiju invited followers of Lord Buddha across the world to visit sacred Buddhist sites in India and connect with this living spiritual heritage. He also underlined the significance of the presence of the Holy Buddha Relics in Ho Chi Minh City during the Vesak celebrations, calling it a moment of deep cultural and spiritual connection.
On the sidelines of the event, Rijiju met President Luong Cuong to discuss the growing multi-dimensional cooperation between India and Vietnam. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. President Cuong expressed appreciation for the Government of India’s gesture in sending the Holy Buddha Relics to Vietnam.
Accompanied by the Indian Minister, the Vietnamese President, the Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Vietnam, and senior officials including the Politburo Member and Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, paid respects to the Holy Relics from Sarnath, near Kashi, now enshrined in a pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City.
Rijiju also visited an exhibition showcasing Indian sculptures of Lord Buddha and digital restorations of Buddhist monuments in India. He later toured a comparative exhibition of Buddhist art from India and Vietnam, which highlighted the centuries-old spiritual, artistic, and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
