The International Buddhist Confederation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, organized a day-long international conference titled "BUDDHISM: DISSEMINATION IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION AND BEYOND" at the Kalawangpo Convention Centre in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The conference was held on November 2, 2026, on the sidelines of the Sacred Relics Exposition in Tawang.
The event was attended by monks, scholars, and delegates from seven countries: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Germany. The inaugural session began with sacred chanting by venerable sangha members, followed by a welcome address by Secretary General IBC Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche, who highlighted the conference's theme exploring how Buddhism originated in India and spread across the subcontinent and beyond.
The conference coincided with the 14th founding day of the International Buddhist Confederation. Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Pema Khandu served as the chief guest and emphasized Tawang's significance as the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama and Arunachal Pradesh's special place in Buddhist heritage. He noted that the state's monasteries represent not just places of worship but a spiritual and cultural legacy.
The conference featured three thematic sessions: Session One explored carrying forward Buddha's legacy post-Mahāparinirvāṇa through preservation of material heritage and ritual renewal; Session Two examined historical and doctrinal continuity of Buddhism with emphasis on Arunachal Pradesh; Session Three discussed the relevance of Buddhist principles of Right Livelihood in contemporary academic, economic, and social contexts.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri Thupten Kalden, Director of the Department of Karmik & Adhyatmik Affairs, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and a sacred Lamp Prayer performed by the Monpa group. This content may not be financially relevant.