Industry Odisha Bureau, Jul 15: In a significant step towards preserving and promoting Odisha’s rich Buddhist legacy, the Odisha government on Wednesday signed an MoU with Guru Padmasambhava Baudh Mahavihara, Jirang.
The Tourism and Culture departments have signed the pact with a vision of positioning Odisha as a globally recognised hub for Buddhist heritage, spirituality, scholarship and cultural tourism.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Odia Language, Literature & Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, and Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
Speaking on the occasion, Parida said that Odisha’s Buddhist heritage is one of the State’s greatest cultural assets and an important pillar of its tourism potential.
She noted that the collaboration reflects the government’s commitment to preserving this timeless legacy while creating authentic spiritual experiences for visitors from across the globe.
She expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen Odisha’s position as a leading international destination for Buddhist pilgrimage and cultural tourism.
Minister Suraj stated that Odisha’s Buddhist traditions represent a unique confluence of history, philosophy and living culture.
He said that the partnership would not only help conserve invaluable heritage but also promote research, cultural exchange and deeper public engagement with Odisha’s rich Buddhist legacy for future generations.
Chief Secretary Garg congratulated the Department of Tourism and the Department of Odia Language, Literature & Culture for taking this significant initiative to strengthen Odisha’s Buddhist heritage through institutional collaboration.
Garg observed that the partnership reflects the government’s integrated approach towards heritage conservation, cultural preservation and sustainable tourism.
The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration to develop authentic spiritual and experiential tourism programmes, including meditation retreats, spiritual learning initiatives, monastic immersion experiences and pilgrimage activities.
It also envisages promoting Buddhist scholarship through international conferences, research, academic collaborations and knowledge exchange, while supporting the integrated development of the Ratnagiri–Udayagiri–Lalitgiri–Jirang Buddhist Circuit as a world-class heritage, pilgrimage and cultural destination with a strong emphasis on heritage conservation, visitor experience and sustainable tourism.
