Lalitgiri: Lalitgiri witnessed a spiritually significant gathering on Monday with the observance of the 2nd Guru Padmasambhava Ceremony, which drew Buddhist monks, scholars, spiritual practitioners, and devotees from India and abroad. The ceremony was held to commemorate Guru Padmasambhava, the revered Buddhist master associated with the spread of Vajrayana Buddhism, and focused on his teachings of compassion, mindfulness, and enlightenment through prayers, rituals, and meditative practices.
A key highlight of the observance was the public display of a rare Buddhist relic dating back to the 3rd Century BC. As identified by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the relic was ceremonially taken out of its protected enclosure at the ASI Lalitgiri Museum and displayed for public viewing on January 16. The relic, which is normally preserved under strict conservation protocols, was made accessible to devotees as part of the religious observance, according to a release.
Revered monks, Buddhist scholars, practitioners, and devotees gathered in large numbers to offer prayers and receive blessings, underscoring the enduring spiritual resonance of Lalitgiri as one of the most significant early centres of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent.
The initiative for the public display was undertaken by the ASI in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Odia Language, Literature & Culture. The display enabled monks, scholars, practitioners, and devotees to offer prayers and pay homage, reinforcing Lalitgiri’s standing as one of the earliest and most significant centres of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent.
Officials ensured that the event was conducted in coordination with religious authorities and archaeological custodians, with due emphasis on the dignity, security, and preservation of the relic. The ceremony highlighted Odisha’s rich Buddhist heritage and reaffirmed Lalitgiri’s importance on the global Buddhist map as a site of historical, spiritual, and cultural significance.
