Images of veneration such as representations of Shakyamuni Buddha, bodhisattvas, and Sambhogakaya forms in the polytheistic Buddhist world are among the key highlights of the Vietnam - India Buddhist Cultural Exhibition now on display at Tam Chuc Pagoda in Ha Nam Province.

The exhibition, hosted in the Tam The basement hall of Tam Chuc Pagoda, showcases a diverse collection of artifacts that reflect the historical and cultural journey of Buddhism between India and Vietnam.

It is one of several cultural activities taking place during the 2025 Vesak celebration.

Visitors to the exhibition can explore the historical transmission of Buddhist teachings from India to Vietnam, tracing how spiritual doctrines and cultural elements of Buddhism were introduced, adapted, and integrated into Vietnamese society over the centuries.

Starting his day at 5 a.m., Nguyen Kim Chinh from Hanoi traveled to Tam Chuc Pagoda to immerse himself in the spiritual atmosphere of the 2025 Vesak celebration. “After paying homage to the Buddha relics, I didn’t leave right away. I took time to explore the surroundings, and when I walked through the Tam The basement, I was drawn to the exhibition. The artifacts were beautifully displayed and deeply meaningful,” he shared.

A distinctive feature of the exhibition is its focus on ancient Vietnamese art, especially through religious depictions of Shakyamuni Buddha, bodhisattvas, and various Sambhogakaya forms, offering insight into the rich visual culture of polytheistic Buddhism.

Buddhist-themed paintings and photographs make up the majority of the exhibits, accompanied by wood carvings, statues, architectural models, and scaled dioramas.

Ngo Thu Thuy, a visitor from Quang Tri, said, “I didn’t know much about Buddhism, but today I had the chance to witness and pay homage to the Buddha relics. It made me more excited to learn about the diversity of the religion.”

The exhibition also presents architectural fragments from Buddhist monastic sites across Indochina, telling the story of the Buddha’s life through archaeological evidence and structural artistry.

Curated by Dr. Abira Bhattacharya, with support from the National Museum under India’s Ministry of Culture, the exhibition opened to the public on May 17 and ran until the morning of May 20.

Manh Hung