As a part of the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Embassy of India in Vientiane in collaboration with the Lao Front for National Development, Vientiane organized a Talk on “Buddhist Linkages between India-Lao PDR” on Feb 1 at Xiengthong Temple, Luang Prabang.
Most Venerable Onkeo Sitthivong, Chair of Luang Prabang Buddhist Fellowship Office, and Dr. Chanpheng Southivong, Vice President, Lao Front for the National Development presided over the occasion.
Besides, more than 60 Buddhist monks, representatives from Lao Front for National Development, Luang Prabang, representatives of various Luang Prabang provincial authorities were also present. Altogether, about 100 people attended the function.
The programme started with opening remarks by Vice President of the Lao Front for National Development Chanpheng Southivong. He welcomed the participants and spoke about the deep rooted historical links between the Lao PDR and India.
This was followed by the speech of the Ambassador of India Dinkar Asthana.
In his address, the Ambassador thanked the Lao Front for National Development for hosting the event. He then spoke about the religious linkages through Buddhism and Hinduism between India and the Lao PDR. He mentioned that Laos and India shared a long history of Buddhist linkages spanning many millennia. He went into detail explaining the various facets of the religious, cultural and historical links between the two countries.
Ambassador also mentioned that the Vat Lao in Bodh Gaya, Laos’ own temple there, is another example of strong cultural ties between India and the Lao PDR.
The other speakers highlighted the various aspects of Buddhism in Laos and observed that such events provide opportunities to preserve and promote religious and cultural linkages between India and the Lao PDR.
Most Venerable Onkeo Kittiphattho, Chair of Buddhist Fellowship Organization in Luang Prabang, in his concluding remarks highlighted the importance of the Talk for increasing the understanding of the history of Lao Buddhism and thanked the Embassy and the Lao Front for National Development for organizing the event.
Source: Lao News Agency
