A Myanmar delegation led by Daw Nu Mra Zan, Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture, returned to Myanmar from India by air on 26 January after attending the Second Global Buddhist Summit, which was held in New Delhi, India, from 24 to 25 January.
The conference was attended by ministers for religious affairs and culture, deputy ministers, Supreme Sayadaws, monks, nuns, rectors, pro-rectors, professors and representatives of Buddhist organizations from more than 40 countries around the world. It was held under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice and Mutual Coexistence”.
The Myanmar delegation, led by the deputy minister, arrived in New Delhi on 23 January. Upon arrival, the Deputy Minister met Mr Mohijit Halder, Director-General of the International Buddhist Confederation, in the afternoon and discussed socio-cultural issues relating to the Buddhist Dhamma.
On 24 January, the opening ceremony of the Second Global Buddhist Summit was held at Bharat Mandapan in New Delhi. The Secretary-General of the International Buddhist Confederation, Venerable Shri Gajendra Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, first led an opening prayer. This was followed by a welcome address delivered by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Tourism of India.
Music expert Dr Aditi Sharma Garg then performed religious music on the traditional Indian lute, after which Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs of India, delivered a speech. The Ladakh State Cultural Group also presented a traditional dance performance.
The deputy minister then took part in a discussion on the topic “Collective Wisdom and United Voice for Social Harmony”. Participants in the discussion were presented with Second Global Buddhist Summit commemorative trophies by the International Buddhist Confederation, and monks from various Buddhist countries attending the conference were also awarded commemorative trophies.
After the first day of the summit, the deputy minister visited the summit exhibition together with the Myanmar Ambassador to India.
On the second day, 25 January, the deputy minister continued to participate in the discussions. The Second Global Buddhist Summit is an important international Buddhist conference attended by monks, nuns and lay representatives from countries around the world, and plays a significant role in the development and dissemination of Buddhism.
In the evening, the Myanmar delegation, led by Deputy Minister Daw Nu Mra Zan, together with representatives from various countries, visited a special exhibition of the Piprahwa Relics of the Buddha at the Qila Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi. Officials from the Ministry of Culture of India and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) welcomed the delegation, accompanied them on a tour and presented commemorative gifts. — MNA/MKKS
