New Delhi, May 30: The Indian Air Force’s heavy transport aircraft, ‘Gajaraj,’ has successfully completed a significant mission. This operation has strengthened the ties between India and Mongolia. Known as the IL-76MD, ‘Gajaraj’ played a crucial role in transporting sacred relics associated with Lord Buddha from New Delhi to Mongolia.
The Indian Air Force’s public relations department announced on the social media platform X that this large aircraft was involved in a mission on Saturday to carry the relics, which symbolize cultural diplomacy and the global dissemination of India’s civilizational heritage.
In Buddhism, the relics of Lord Buddha are revered as symbols of wisdom, compassion, and liberation. Their exhibition in Mongolia further solidifies the centuries-old spiritual connections between the two nations.
Historically, India and Mongolia are linked through a shared Buddhist heritage, and this mission deepens that cultural and spiritual relationship.
The Indian Air Force emphasized that this was not merely a logistical operation but a significant endeavor connecting faith, heritage, and international friendship, accomplished with the help of ‘Gajaraj.’
Images reveal that the relics were ceremoniously handed over to an Indian delegation at the airport, led by Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya. The relics include those of two of Lord Buddha’s prominent disciples, Arhat Sariputra and Arhat Maudgalyayana.
These relics will be displayed in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, until June 9. The exhibition, organized under the auspices of the Indian government’s Ministry of Culture, is considered an important spiritual and diplomatic initiative showcasing the shared Buddhist heritage of both countries.
The relics are linked to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sanchi Stupa, regarded as one of the most revered centers of Buddhism.
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