Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |
Gandhara Symposium 2023 that presents the true essence of Gandhara Heritage titled “Cultural Diplomacy: Reviving Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan” was held at Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan on July 11~13, 2023.
Several Buddhist monks and delegates from different countries including South Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam and Sri Lanka participated in the symposium to celebrate the shared historical and cultural legacy.
South Korea’s most revered Mideung, Director Central Buddhist Museum, Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism, Mr. Kim Yun-Tea, Director Multicultural Museum Seoul, Ms. Yi Yun-Jung, research officer of Korea Cultural Foundation, and Ms. Jang Hye-kyung, Team Leader at Central Buddhist Museum of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism attended the symposium in Pakistan.
Faith leaders, archaeologists, curators, experts, religious scholars, academicians, and Pakistani stakeholders of Tourism Industry also participated in the symposium and reflected the richness of Gandhara civilization and the Buddhist Heritage.
Gandhara Symposium 2023 is all about creating an atmosphere that enables people from all over the world to come together to find the best possible solutions for promoting religious tourism as well as bring together experts and scholars from various walks of life to celebrate the rich Buddhist heritage and traditions.
The event titled “Cultural Diplomacy: Reviving Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan” was organized by PM Task Force on Gandhara Tourism, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), and Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Dr. Arif Alvi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan by addressing the inaugural session of the symposium, recalled that the Gandhara civilization holds immense importance for the Pakistani nation, representing a “powerful dimension of our rich cultural heritage.”
Dr. Abdul Samad, the Director of KP Archaeology and Museums said, “the main goal of the symposium is to showcase “Pakistan as the hub of religious tourism as a region sacred to Muslims and other religions, and that promotes religious harmony."
Dr. Ramesh Kumar, the Chairman of Prime Minister's Task Force on Gandhara Tourism said, “it's high time we capitalize on the great Gandhara heritage. We promise to safeguard this unique legacy for the benefit of humanity.”
The International Gandhara Symposium 2023 was consisted of 4 sessions that presented the importance of Gandhara civilization, a great treasure existed in Pakistan.
Session 1: Pathways to Peace: Exploring Pakistan's Rich Buddhist Legacy has presented Pakistan as the hub of religious tourism and discussed the lack of recognition of Gandhara in modern Buddhism.
Session- 2: Gandhara Civilization: Celebrating Pakistan's Buddhist Heritage compiled the discussion covering how Pakistan become synonymous with Gandhara heritage, Buddhism in the past few years, and opening of avenues for multiculturalism.
Session- 3: Promoting Tourism: Creating an Enabling Environment revolved around how enabling environment can be created to promote tourism.
Session-4: Exploring the Spirit of Gandhara: Preserving the Past and Illuminating the Future emphasized on preserving the past and presenting the future, focusing on sustainability.
Gandhara Cultural show was also organized on the second day of the symposium.
Most Venerable and esteemed guests were given an extended visit to Taxila Museum where they lauded the efforts of Pakistani government and authorities of Taxila Museum for preserving the history of Gandhara civilization.
The honorable guests visited Dharmarajika stupa, and Takht-i-Bahi to behold the archaeological remains of Gandhara civilization and offered their prayer at the existing point for stability and prosperity of Pakistan.
The guests also visited Peshawar Museum famous for its extensive collection of Buddhist art and artefacts, particularly those from the ancient Gandhara civilization. During their visit, they witnessed some of the oldest historical archaeological artefacts displayed in the museum.
The visitors commended Pakistan’s efforts in preserving and promoting Gandhara civilization.
The faith leaders said that visiting the Gandhara sites in Pakistan is an “unforgettable experience” and that the “grand stupas and statues of Buddha are not only etched in the visitor’s mind but also in their heart”.
Ms. Yi Yun-Jung, research officer of Korea Cultural Foundation while talking about South Korea and Pakistan collaborative Gandhara project said, “Gandhara cultural heritage has significant historical values and potential as a tourism resource for the future generations.”
Venerable Anil Sakya, the Honorary Rector of the World Buddhist University in Thailand, emphasized the message of peace, tolerance, and interfaith harmony in his speech. He expressed gratitude to Pakistani authorities for hosting the summit strengthening the friendship between Islam and Buddhism is thousands of years
old.
Bhikshu Kondanya, the Chief Abbot of Buddha Bihara Nepal, appreciated Pakistan’s initiative to promote cultural diversity and religious tourism and said, “As a country with rich cultural heritage, and the center of the Indus and Gandhara civilization, Pakistan can become a new attraction for tourists.”
Prof Dr Hridya Ratna, one of the monks and former Vice Chancellor of Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU) Nepal, for example stressed that Gautam Buddha was a “teacher and a guide –but not a God.”
A monk Dr. Kallanchiye Rathanasiri Thero from Sri Lanka mentioned about his second visit to Pakistan mentioned others to visit Pakistan and see the preserved places of ancient civilization.
Another monk from Myanmar said, “there are a lot of interesting ancient Buddhist artifacts in Taxila Museum. Pakistan has a number of religious archaeological sites which are worth visiting.”
Later, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, the Chairman of Prime Minister's Task Force on Gandhara Tourism, Pakistan said, “the visit of monks belonging to different countries of the world will encourage other people to visit Pakistan as well.
He said a draft of a declaration to preserve and excavate Gandhara civilization's archaeological sites in Pakistan has also been shared with the visiting monks to proceed further in this regard.
Gandhara means the “land of fragrance” in Sanskrit, is a civilization that existed on the west of the river Indus, in the middle of the first millennium BCE to the beginning of the second millennium CE, now exist in Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. The modern-day northwestern Pakistani territories of Peshawar, Swat, Dir, Bajaur, Buner, Mardan and Swabi were part of the civilization and continue to have several excavation sites today.
