Bhubaneswar: In a first-of-its-kind initiative for the Indian diaspora in Myanmar, Char Dham and Bodh Gaya Darshan 2025 was inaugurated in Yangon.
The initiative is a result of collaboration between India Samaj Myanmar, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in Yangon, Embassy of India in Myanmar, and with the active participation of the Indian community.
Abhay Thakur, Ambassador of India to Myanmar, his wife Dr Surabhi Thakur, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Myanmar Prabashini Ponnamperuma and India Samaj Myanmar president Dr Sital Kumar Palbabu jointly inaugurated Char Dham darshan Yangon’s India Centre, in the presence of community leaders, devotees and well-wishers.
Char Dham Darshan and Bodh Gaya Darshan in Yangon 2025 features symbolic installations of:
Jagannath Dham, Puri
(Odisha) – Dedicated to Lord Jagannath, representing the East
Dwarka Dham (Gujarat) – Sacred abode of Lord Krishna (Dwarkadhish), symbolising the West
Rameswaram Dham (Tamil Nadu) – Home to Lord Shiva as Sri Ramanathaswamy, representing the South
Badrinath Dham (Uttarakhand) – Devoted to Lord Badrinarayan (Lord Vishnu), aligned with the North
Bodh Gaya (Bihar) — Sacred site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, representing the East/North-East spiritual axis.
The five symbolic structures will offer visitors in Yangon a special experience of India’s pilgrimage circuit at one location.
“Char Dham Darshan is a commendable initiative. I encourage the community to reflect on how such spiritual and cultural efforts can be further strengthened in Myanmar,” Ambassador Thakur said.
Char Dham Darshan in Yangon 2025 includes Deepa Prajwalana, Vedic mantra chanting and community prayers, which create a spiritually immersive experience for visitors.
The installations will remain open to the public during India Centre visiting hours – on December 13 and 14, from 9.30 am to 2 pm.