OPINION The Buddhism Connect with China: Reconnecting with India's civilizational heritage

As the oldest and largest Buddhist pagoda to the south of Yangtze River, the Tiger Hill temple structure occupies a high status in the field of architecture, history, and art.

To commemorate the inauguration in India of the historic grand exhibition “The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Consul General of India in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur travelled to Tiger Hill Pagoda in the ancient city of Suzhou in China.

As the oldest and largest Buddhist pagoda to the south of Yangtze River, the Tiger Hill temple structure occupies a high status in the field of architecture, history, and art.

Consul General, in his interaction with the Buddhist clergy and the local community, including Friends of India, underlined the special significance of the return of the sacred Piprahwa Ratna of Lord Buddha after 127 years as embodying a proud occasion for India’s civilized consciousness and spiritual heritage.

Consul General of India in Shanghai Pratik Mathur

A week earlier, on December 28, to commemorate the World Meditation Day observed globally this week, Pratik Mathur traveled to the historic Lingshan Buddha Temple and Monastery in southern Jiangsu province of Eastern China.

The Grand Buddha at Ling Shan is a bronze statue of Buddha as Amitabha, which is considered one of the largest Buddha statues of its kind anywhere in the world.

On this auspicious occasion, the Consul General was honoured by the Buddhist monks led by Chief Abbot Ren Xu, who highlighted the strong bonds of friendship and engagement fostered by Buddhism and Indian religious traditions.

Consul General Pratik Mathur thanked the local community for their support and contribution to the Consulate's initiatives in the region, from the celebration of IDY2025 to World Meditation Day 2025 also celebrated globally with participation by all UN member states.