Speaking at the Samvad conference earlier this year, Prime Minister Modi emphasized India and Thailand’s 2,000-year-old cultural ties, stating:

“The Ramayan and Ramakien connect us, and our shared reverence for Bhagwan Buddha unites us. When India sent the holy relics of Bhagwan Buddha to Thailand last year, millions came to pay their respects.”

He added that India’s reverence for Buddha is not only cultural but also reflected in policy.

“Our reverence for Bhagwan Buddha is reflected in the policies of the Indian government,” he said, reaffirming India’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and spiritual diplomacy.

In a major initiative aligning with his ‘Act East’ and ‘Neighborhood First’ policies, India hosted the first Asian Buddhist Summit in November 2024 in New Delhi, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation. The summit focused on inclusive spiritual development across Asia and explored the relevance of Buddhist thought in today’s world.

PM Modi’s dedication to strengthening Buddhist links extends across the region. In 2023, he joined former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Bal Bodhi Tree in Delhi, emphasizing the profound spiritual ties between India and Japan. The previous year, on Buddha Purnima, he visited Lumbini in Nepal — the birthplace of Lord Buddha — alongside Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The two leaders offered prayers at the Mayadevi Temple and visited the Ashoka Pillar, a testament to Lumbini’s ancient significance. Modi also watered a Bodhi tree he had previously gifted to Nepal during a 2014 visit.

India’s cultural outreach has extended beyond South Asia. In 2022, the Kapilavastu Relics — four sacred relics of Lord Buddha — were sent to Mongolia for an 11-day exposition during Buddha Purnima, drawing large numbers of devotees. In 2019, PM Modi and then-Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga unveiled a statue of Lord Buddha and his disciples at the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar.

Other notable moments include PM Modi’s 2018 visit to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore and his 2016 visit to the Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi, where he received a warm welcome from Vietnamese monks. There, he remarked,

“While some came to make war, India came with the message of peace — the message of Buddha.”

He noted that Buddhism reached Vietnam via sea routes from India, preserving its purest form.

In 2015, the Prime Minister paid respects at the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Highlighting Buddhism as a foundational pillar of India-Sri Lanka relations, PM Modi is expected to visit Anuradhapura once again this Sunday, alongside the President of Sri Lanka.

From Southeast Asia to East Asia, Buddhism continues to serve as a powerful bridge between India and its neighbors. Prime Minister Modi’s consistent efforts to position Buddha’s teachings at the heart of India’s diplomacy not only honor ancient ties but also carve pathways for deeper cooperation and mutual understanding in the modern world.