The inaugural session set a tone of solemn purpose. Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, addressed the gathering, emphasizing the timeless relevance of the Buddha’s teachings in today’s fractured world. “This summit is not merely a conference,” he stated, “but a sangha of the global community, seeking pathways from philosophy to purposeful action for humanity’s pressing challenges.”

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a projected central figure for this “civilisational gathering,” was engaged with the 18th Rozgar Mela earlier in the day, his vision for the summit as a platform for India’s civilizational stewardship and soft power leadership loomed large over the proceedings.

The prestigious international turnout, including the heads of national Sanghas and revered spiritual leaders from Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Taiwan, underscores India’s successful convening power on the global “Buddhist axis.”



Distinguished international dignitaries attending the summit included H.E. Ms. Daw Nu Mra Zan, Deputy Minister of Religious & Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Myanmar; H.E. Mr. Dzgambinov Ochir Vladimirovich, Deputy Head of Government, Republic of Kalmykia (Russia); H.E. Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Former Foreign Minister of Thailand; Most Ven. Thich Duc Thien, Member of National Assembly, Vietnam & Vice President–General Secretary, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha; H.E. Dr. Khy Sovanrathna, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Cambodia.

At the opening of the Global Buddhist Summit at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Honorable Minister of Culture & Tourism, encouraged attendees to visit the grand international exposition, 'The Light & The Lotus: Relics of The Awakened One', currently on display at the Raipithora Cultural Center in New Delhi, to pay their respects to Bhagwan Buddha.

He also highlighted the Piprahwa Relics, repatriated to India after 127 years, as living symbols of India's civilization.



The Minister further stated that, under the Gyan Bharatam initiative, the Government of India is undertaking one of the world's largest projects to digitize ancient manuscripts. These texts - preserved on palm leaves, birch bark, and handmade paper in languages such as Pali, Prakrit, Sanskrit, and Tibetan - are being safeguarded for future generations.

The first day’s dialogue moved beyond ceremonial gestures to tackle substantive issues. Panels and discussions probed how Buddhist philosophy can provide a framework and decisive direction in navigating modern, multi-layered crises—from environmental degradation to social discord and inner turmoil. The discourse consistently aimed at translating ancient wisdom into sustained, actionable solutions for the 21st century.

A striking moment of synthesis between ancient tradition and cutting-edge technology captivated attendees: the live demonstration of NORBU (Kalyan Mitra), a pioneering Artificial Intelligence language model trained exclusively on a vast corpus of Buddhist scriptures. Developed to assist scholars and practitioners in research and learning, NORBU represents a novel tool to preserve, disseminate, and deepen engagement with the Dharma in the digital age.

The summit, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), is being live-streamed, allowing a global audience to partake in the deliberations. Analysts view the event as a strategic soft power initiative, reinforcing India’s role not just as Buddhism’s birthplace, but as its active, dynamic global convenor and a voice for ethical leadership.

As the day concluded, the atmosphere was one of reflective anticipation. The summit will continue tomorrow, January 25, with a focus on themes of ethical leadership and sustainable living, seeking to channel the day’s collective wisdom into a united voice for peace and coexistence.