Exhibition of India’s Buddhist heritage opens in Colombo

High Commission of India, Colombo has organised a special exhibition on India’s rich Buddhist heritage as a part of the Buddha Rashmi National Vesak Festival at Seemamalakaya, Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, accompanied by Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, senior ministers and other dignitaries visited the exhibition at the soft opening of the Vesak Festival, jointly organised by the President’s Secretariat, Prime Minister’s Office and Gangaramaya Temple on 3 May. The special exhibition, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana of The Buddha on the sacred Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, underlines the civilisational connect between India and Sri Lanka. The exhibition is open for public viewing till Sunday. It displays digital recreations of the fresco paintings from the world-famous UNESCO Heritage Site Ajanta Caves of India, depicting significant episodes from Lord Buddha’s life and Jataka tales. Ajanta Caves are Buddhist cave monuments in Maharashtra, India dating back to 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. The exhibition is yet another testimony to India’s untiring efforts to preserve and restore Buddhist heritage in India and across the world.  Curators of the exhibition Ankur Naik and Prasad Pawar gifted a replica of the digitally restored Padma of the renowned ‘Padmapani’ on an original basalt stone to President Wickremesinghe, in what is a vivid example of the impressive restoration works which are being carried out in Ajanta Caves.

The exhibition was also displayed at the first Global Buddhist Summit held in New Delhi in India from 20-21 April. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had viewed this exhibition at the Summit.