New Delhi, May 1 -- A large gathering of monks, bhikkhunis, diplomats and the Sangha today offered chanting and special prayers to the Holy Buddha Relic at a protected enclosure of the National Museum in New Delhi. The Sacred Relic of the Buddha will be sent from New Delhi to Vietnam by a special Indian Air Force aircraft.

Vietnam's Ambassador to India, Nguyen Thanh Hai, and Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Priyanga Wickramasinghe, also offered prayers in Delhi.

The relics will be in Vietnam from May 2 to May 21 and will travel through four cities, including Ho Chi Minh City, where the United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) event will be held, according to communique from Ministry of Culture. The Indian delegation will be led...