The sacred relics of Lord Buddha, enshrined at the National Museum in New Delhi, will travel to Bhutan today for an eleven-day public exposition. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar will lead the delegation. The Ministry of Culture said that the exposition is part of the Global Peace Prayer Festival in Thimphu
. The festival is a major event praying for world peace and the healing of humanity, and coincides with the 70th birth anniversary of the fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk. The relics will be enshrined for public veneration at the Kuenrey Hall of Tashichho Dzong.
Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay said the King of Bhutan conceived the concept of the festival as an event for highlighting peace on earth. He said this is the second visit of the relics to Bhutan and is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation.
