Gandhinagar: The state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday with Thailand-based Bodhigaya Vijjalaya 980 Institute to conserve and promote places of Buddhist heritage.
A govt statement said that members of the 4th Mekong Ganga Dhamma Yatra delegation, who are on a visit to Gujarat, were present for the MoU signing in the presence of chief minister Bhupendra Patel, in Gandhinagar. According to the agreement, there will be "cooperation in the conservation and development of Buddhist tangible and intangible heritage in Gujarat and for global promotion of places of the Buddhist circuit in the state."
The 4th Mekong Ganga Dhamma Yatra started in Bangkok, and the delegation is visiting different parts of India from Dec 2 to 10. The release said that members of the delegation visited the remains of an ancient Buddhist monastery in Vadnagar, the hometown of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The delegation also visited a Buddhist archaeological site at Dev Ni Mori in north Gujarat.
During the meeting, the representatives of the yatra informed Patel that their journey from Thailand to India aims to deepen the cultural and spiritual ties between the Mekong and Ganga civilizations. They said the yatra aims to spread the teachings of Buddhism around the world, raise public awareness towards the environment, and promote peace.
Patel urged social media influencers of Thailand to come to Gujarat and make people of their country and the world familiar with the Buddhist heritage, the statement said.