ICCR’s ‘Buddha Bhoomi Vandan Yatra’ connects 23 Buddhist scholars from 11 countries
From 25 October 2023 to 3 November 2023, 23 young Buddhist scholars from 11 different countries, including Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Bhutan, South Korea, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam travelled across India as a part of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ (ICCR) ‘Buddha Bhoomi Vandan Yatra.’
ICCR Buddhist delegates
New Delhi, November 4: The ‘Buddha Bhoomi Vandan Yatra’, a cultural and educational programme organized by ICCR, helped young scholars connect to the various sites in India related to Gautam Buddha’s life. The programme helped young scholars to gain a deeper understanding of India’s Buddhist heritage while also helping them to gain insights into the deeper meanings of Buddhism, said the scholars during a media interaction on Friday.
“The programme enables participants to visit key Buddhist sites, engage with experts, and learn about the rich history and culture of Buddhism in India,” said the ICCR Chairman Vinay Sahasrabuddhe during the media interaction.
From 25 October 2023 to 3 November 2023, 23 young Buddhist scholars from 11 different countries, including Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Bhutan, South Korea, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam travelled across India as a part of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ (ICCR) ‘Buddha Bhoomi Vandan Yatra.’ “This educational and cultural visit aims to promote cross-cultural understanding and facilitate the exploration of India’s rich Buddhist heritage. On October 26, 2023, the young scholars explored Bodh Gaya’s Monasteries and Archaeological Museum,” said the ICCR in a statement.
The scholars also visited Nalanda, and the monuments and the Nalanda University, established in 2010. “Furthermore, on 28 October, they departed for Varanasi and 29 October brought visits to Sarnath’s Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Chaukhambi Stupa, Sarnath Museum, Mulgandh Kuti, and Dhamek Stupa.Additionally,” added the ICCR. The scholars also held interaction with Dr. Animesh Prakash, Assistant Professor, CIHTS, had an interactive session on the ‘Buddhist & Indian Knowledge System.’ They also visited Kashi Vishwanath Dham, and witnessed the maha Ganga Aarti.
“On 31st October in Delhi, delegates at the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) at Vigyan Bhawan attended an insightful presentation on the Indian Knowledge system conducted by Director, National Mission for Manuscripts, Dr. Anirban Dash,” said the ICCR. The Buddhist scholars also visited the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
About The Author
