In response to a formal request from the Vietnamese government, with the recommendation of the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs, the Government of India has agreed to extend the enshrinement of sacred relics of the Buddha in Vietnam beyond May 21.

The Indian Embassy has also requested a detailed schedule of the next display locations to facilitate logistical arrangements, including visa extensions for accompanying Indian officials and monks, as well as ceremony planning and security coordination.

The relics of Shakyamuni Buddha - recognized as a national treasure of India - have been on display in Vietnam since May 2 under the joint approval of the Vietnamese and Indian governments and organized by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. This marks only the fourth time that the relics have been brought outside of India.

From May 2 to May 21, the sacred relics were enshrined at four major spiritual sites across the country: Thanh Tam Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Province, Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, and Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam Province.

The event has drawn large crowds, with tens of thousands of Buddhists and devotees visiting daily, particularly at Tam Chuc Pagoda, originally scheduled as the final stop from May 17 to 20.

Due to overwhelming public interest and spiritual demand, the organizing committee had already announced on the evening of May 19 that the enshrinement at Tam Chuc would be extended through May 21. Now, with India's agreement, the relics will remain in Vietnam until June 2.

This extension is a result of a direct appeal by the Vietnamese Prime Minister to his Indian counterpart, emphasizing the deep cultural and religious significance of the relics for Vietnamese Buddhists.

The Indian side has expressed support for the proposal and is now coordinating with Vietnamese authorities to arrange the next phase of the exhibition.

Binh Minh