LAOS, July 30, 2024 (OpIndia): The statue of Shri Ram Lalla, depicting Lord Ram in his child form, is the central Deity of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, and Lao PDR’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Saleumxay Kommasith, jointly unveiled a special commemorative postage stamp set during a ceremony in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, becoming the first nation globally to feature this revered Deity on a stamp. India’s ambassador to Laos, Prashant Agrawal, was also present at the event, which took place during Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to the Southeast Asian country for ASEAN meetings. Laos is a landlocked country bordered to the north by China and to the northeast and east by Vietnam. Cambodia lies to the south of Laos, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar to the northwest. Laos is considered part of India’s extended neighborhood, with only Myanmar separating it from India’s North East.

The stamp set includes two distinct stamps: one featuring Lord Buddha of Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos and a significant Buddhist site, and the other depicting Lord Shri Ram of Ayodhya. Buddhism and Hinduism have long served as a strong bridge between India and Lao PDR (People’s Democratic Republic), with India being the birthplace of the two faiths and home to many important sites associated with them, which have a significant following in Southeast Asia. According to some historical accounts, the Lao people’s original belief system was animism, which was later influenced by Indian culture. Hinduism followed, and subsequently, Buddhism became prominent. Buddhism has played a significant role in Lao history and influences nearly all aspects of Lao life today. Currently, about 65% of the Lao population practices Hinayana (Theravada) Buddhism, although animism still coexists with Buddhism.

Much more at source.
https://www.opindia.com/2024/07/laos-releases-worlds-first-ever-stamp-depicting-ayodhya-ram-lalla-how-hinduism-is-woven-deeply-into-rich-tapestry-of-southeast-asias-multireligious-culture/

Post Views: 638