Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Minister of Culture of India, noted at the opening of the conference that this event symbolizes the shared cultural and spiritual traditions of the two countries — India and Mongolia. This was reported by MiddleAsianNews.
On February 19, an exhibition dedicated to over 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia began in New Delhi, showcasing various aspects of Mongolian culture, according to the Indian Ministry of Culture.
The second day of the conference took place at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) as part of this event.
The exhibition will run until February 25, ministry representatives reported.
Shekhawat added that cooperation between India and Mongolia encompasses not only religious aspects but also fields such as astronomy, literature, medicine, and philosophy.
He also emphasized the importance of the Mongolian Ganjur, a canonical Buddhist text in 108 volumes, which is a key religious text in Mongolia.
In the Mongolian language, Ganjur translates to "Brief Instructions," particularly relating to the teachings of Buddha. This text is revered by Mongolian Buddhists, who use it in rituals in temples.
The Minister of Culture characterized the Ganjur as "a significant testament to linguistic and philosophical science" and stressed that its preservation and digitization will contribute to the development of cultural diplomacy.
The Ambassador of Mongolia to India, Ganbold Dambajav, called India Mongolia's spiritual neighbor and an important regional ally.
He noted that Buddhism represents one of the key shared values and emphasized the need to preserve and translate classical Buddhist texts.
According to the ministry, the conference served as a platform for scholars studying the historical, cultural, and spiritual ties between India and Mongolia, including archaeological findings, religious and literary traditions, Sanskrit manuscripts in Mongolia, as well as artistic exchange and shared material heritage.
The event was attended by researchers from India, Mongolia, France, and the USA, who presented 75 scientific papers over two days.
