This is an archive article published on April 18, 2025
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2-day conclave on Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh next week
Titled ‘Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of Northeast India’, the event will highlight how the Northeast region is a significant centre for Buddhist traditions, monastic culture, and heritage.
The region has preserved and propagated various Buddhist traditions, including Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna, Abhijit Halder, Director-General, IBC, a global umbrella body for Buddhist conclaves, headquartered in New Delhi. (Representative)
In a first, the government is organising a two-day conclave starting April 21 in Arunachal Pradesh to highlight the spread and impact of Buddhism in India’s Northeast. To be organised jointly by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the event at Namsai — just bordering Myanmar — is likely to be attended by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy CM Chowna Mein, officials said.
Earlier, the international Buddhist conclaves were held in Delhi with participation from monks and scholars from neighbouring South Asia and SouthEast Asia countries. However, since Arunachal is a sensitive region and requires multiple permissions, the international contingent this time won’t be large.
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However, Consul General of Bhutan in Guwahati, Jigme Thinlye Namgyal, is likely to attend the event, while students of Buddhism from Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, currently studying in India, are also expected to mark their presence, as per officials. Besides, MLAs and academics from the region and other parts of the country will also attend, officials say.
Titled ‘Buddha Dhamma and the Culture of Northeast India’, the event will highlight how the Northeast region is a significant centre for Buddhist traditions, monastic culture, and heritage.
The region has preserved and propagated various Buddhist traditions, including Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna, Abhijit Halder, Director-General, IBC, a global umbrella body for Buddhist conclaves, headquartered in New Delhi.
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While the first day will include three panel discussions on Buddhism’s historical relevance, art and culture of the region and cultural impact of Buddha Dhamma on the neighbouring countries, and vice versa; the second day will be dedicated to practising vipassana and praying for world peace at the famous Golden Pagoda, officials said.
The Northeast India is home to several indigenous tribes that have integrated Buddha Dhamma with their traditional customs, Halder said, adding that the story of Theravāda Buddhism in Namsai district was a remarkable tale of spiritual continuity, cultural resilience and modern revival, and the aim of the conclave is also to highlight that to the world community.
The principal proponents of the Theravāda sect in the region are the Tai Khamtis, who migrated from the upper Chindwin Valley in present-day Myanmar in 18th-19th centuries.
The region has preserved and propagated various Buddhist traditions, including Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna, Abhijit Halder, Director-General, IBC, a global umbrella body for Buddhist conclaves, headquartered in New Delhi. (Representative) 
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