A 75-member Japanese delegation, led by Kotaro Nagasaki, Governor of Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture, was accorded a grand welcome on their arrival in Varanasi on Saturday. Later, the delegation, which is on a two-day visit to the temple town, visited Sarnath, the site of Lord Buddha’s first sermon.
During the visit, they were briefed on the historical and religious significance of the museum, the archaeological site and the Buddha Stupa. Later, the delegation members visited Namo Ghat, where they watched the Ganga Aarti. It will also help introduce more Japanese tourists to Uttar Pradesh’s rich Buddhist heritage, historical sites and spiritual traditions, he added.
They praised Kashi’s spiritual and cultural heritage, said the Varanasi administration in a communique. Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh said the Japanese delegation’s visit to Sarnath presents a significant opportunity to further deepen the centuries-old Buddhist and cultural ties between India and Japan.
