After a solemn ceremony with the participation of hundreds of Buddhist followers at Noi Bai airport, the sari was taken to Bai Dinh Pagoda – the largest Buddhist pagoda in Vietnam – in the northern province of Ninh Binh for a grand celebration on the same day. The treasure will be preserved in the pagoda’s stupa.

The sari – one of the purported relics left over after the physical body of the Buddha was cremated – was a gift from the President of the World Association of Buddhists in India to Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan during her official visit to the country in September last year.

The procession was recognised by the Vietnam Guinness Book Centre as the largest Buddhist treasure reception in Vietnam, which involved more than 15,000 pilgrims and over 1,000 motor vehicles.