Kushinagar, the Mahaparinirvana site of Lord Buddha, witnessed a grand spiritual gathering on Tuesday as the 17th Buddha Dhatu Shobha Yatra concluded with wide international participation.
Organised by the Thai Monastery, the five-day celebrations from February 20 to 24 ended with a ceremonial Shobha Yatra from the Mahaparinirvana Temple to the Ramabhar Stupa.
Elephants, horses and traditional bands led the Yatra as the entire town resonated with chants and devotional music. More than 200 foreign tourists joined thousands of local devotees. Buddhist monks and followers from Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, Ladakh and the Himalayan regions participated, lending the event a strong global presence.
Thailand’s Ambassador to India, Chavanart Thangsumphant, along with Phra Maha Sompong, Chief Abbot of Wat Thai Bodhgaya, participated in the Yatra along with other senior monks and dignitaries.
For visiting monks and seekers, the Yatra reaffirmed Kushinagar’s central place in global Buddhist pilgrimage. The Mahaparinirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa remain spiritually significant to devotees who travel from Southeast Asia and other regions to retrace the Buddha’s final journey
UP Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said such events deepen India–Thailand bond while strengthening inbound Buddhist tourism. He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a key destination for global Buddhist gatherings. Cultural exchanges like the Buddha Dhatu Shobha Yatra, he added, reinforce people-to-people ties.
Nearly 50 artists from Thailand presented the traditional “Som Potha Phra Dhat” dance. Their performance drew large crowds and highlighted shared spiritual heritage. Students from local schools and residents joined the procession, turning Kushinagar into what many described as a “Mini Thailand.”
The five-day programme included chanting sessions, alms-giving ceremonies, free medical camps and competitions based on the teachings of Lord Buddha. Winners were honoured before the conclusion of the event.
The celebrations come amid record growth in Buddhist tourism. In 2025, more than 4.42 lakh foreign visitors travelled to the six major Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh, including Kushinagar, Kaushambi, Sankisa, Shravasti, Kapilvastu and Sarnath.
For Buddhist seekers, Kushinagar continues to offer a rare blend of peace, devotion, history and international fellowship.