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Sacred Buddha Relics from Pakistan here for exposition till Poson Poya
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Sacred Buddha Relics from Pakistan here for exposition till Poson Poya
Religious and political leaders welcomed the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha from Pakistan’s Gandhara region at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Friday.
The Sacred Relics includes two Bone Relics of Lord Buddha, a golden Casket which contains the Sacred Relics and a stone reliquary in the shape of a stupa. The Sacred Relics are part of a collection from the Taxila Museum in Pakistan, situated at one of the most important archaeological sites in Asia.
Minister for Public Administration and Management Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Minister for Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Senior Monks, high ranking government officials, religious scholars, as well as the Deputy High Commissioner and officers of the Pakistan High Commission received the Sacred Relics.
The religious leaders performed special pooja on arrival of the Sacred Relics which will be in the country for exposition islandwide.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan, Dr. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra said the Government of Pakistan is holding Vesak Festival for the first time in Pakistan’s history, in Taxila valley, the historic capital of the ancient Gandhara region in Pakistan.
He said that, only Senior Monks, religious scholars, pilgrims and media personalities from Sri Lanka are invited by the Pakistan government for the celebrations.
While recalling the successful visit of 40 Sri Lankan Monks to witness Pakistan’s rich Buddhist heritage, Dr Sipra said that such exchanges will further strengthen the already existing deep rooted cultural relations between the two friendly nations.
The advent and development of Buddhism owes a great deal to the ancient land of Pakistan. It was here that the religious activities reached its climax through well-organized missionaries, and ultimately made it a world religion.
The land of Gandhara where the celebrated faith evolved is more or less a triangle of about 100 km across east to west, and 70 km from north to south, on the west of the Indus river in Pakistan.
The Gandhara trail, having its capital and cultural hub in present-day Taxilla, was part of the Silk Route, and many Buddhist pilgrims from various countries used to visit these sites along this historical route.
The exposition of the Sacred Relics in Sri Lanka commenced at Temple Trees yesterday, and will be exhibited at important temples islandwide until Full Moon Poson Poya Day.