The sapling of the sacred Bodhi Tree, from Bodh Gaya, was formally handed over at a solemn ceremony today by Mr. Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs and Ambassador of India to Seoul, Vishnu Prakash. The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea H.E. Yun, Byung-se and Forest Minister H.E. Shin, Won-sop received the sapling on behalf of President H.E. Madame Park, Geun-hye. A large number of dignitaries were present on the occasion including senior officials, Buddhist priests and laymen as well as media representatives.
2. It would be recalled that during the State visit of President Park, Geun-hye to India in January 2014, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, had offered to gift the sapling of the sacred Bodhi Tree, as a symbol of India’s friendship and goodwill, for the people of Korea. The offer was accepted with pleasure. Earlier this month, representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs and Korea Forest Service brought the sapling to Korea.
3. It is being temporarily housed at the Korea National Arboretum, near Seoul. A permanent abode for the sapling would be identified in due course at a suitable Buddhist temple, when it would be open for public viewing. Over 25 per cent of the Korean population is Buddhist. It is expected that the sapling of Bodhi Tree would become a place for pilgrimage for Buddhists in Korea and East Asia.
4. The arrival of the sapling in Korea adds another significant chapter in the centuries old people-to-people relations between India and Korea.
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