Colombo: India is planning to start a
special train from Chennai for Buddhist pilgrims visiting the
country from Sri Lanka.
India and Sri Lanka were forging ahead with close
religious and cultural ties, Indian High Commissioner Ashok K
Kantha has told an international Buddhist conference that was
inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Indian Railways was planning to launch a special
Buddhist Train "Dambadiva Vandana" (Indian Pilgrimage) later
this year from Chennai to cater specially to Sri Lankan
pilgrims, the High Commissioner announced.
An exposition of the Kapilvastu Relics (of the Buddha)
will take place in Sri Lanka later this year while an Indian
section will be set up at the International Buddhist Museum in
Kandy, Sri Lanka.
There would be a specially crafted idol of Lord
Buddha in Sarnath style from the Gupta period at the entrance
of the International Buddhist Museum complex in Sri Dalada
Maligawa, or the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the High
Commission in Colombo said in a statement.
India has sponsored the Buddhist conference.
PTI
First Published: Monday, March 21, 2011, 10:18