UTTAR PRADESH, India – On March 7, 2026, monks in an ordination program dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother visited the Sarnath Museum in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. This visit was part of a study tour to important Buddhist historical sites and cultural centers.
The monks toured the museum and paid respects to the renowned Buddha image in the Dharmachakra Mudra, which represents the Buddha’s First Sermon. This sculpture is considered one of the most refined and significant Buddhist artworks globally.
The visit was part of an educational program aimed at deepening understanding of the Buddha’s life and the historical development of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent. The monks viewed archaeological artifacts and art objects in the museum that illustrate the flourishing of Buddhism in ancient India.
Sarnath Museum is one of India’s most important archaeological museums. It houses artifacts found in Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta to the five ascetics after attaining enlightenment, marking the beginning of his teachings and the establishment of Buddhism.
At 16:30, the monks took a boat trip along the Ganges River in Varanasi to study the traditions, culture, and religious practices of Hindu communities living along the river.
During the journey, the monks observed religious ceremonies and daily rituals along the riverbanks, highlighting the close connection between faith, culture, and daily life in Hindu society. The Ganges is considered the holiest river in Hinduism, believed to cleanse sins and guide souls toward spiritual liberation.
The group also passed Manikarnika Ghat, one of the oldest and most sacred cremation sites along the Ganges. Hindu belief holds that cremation here helps the soul attain liberation from the cycle of rebirth. (NNT)
