Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether information has been sought from Archeological Survey of India for the excavation point of Bhiksha Patra (Begging Bowl) of Lord Buddha;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any action has been taken by the Government to bring the Bhiksha Patra back from Afghanistan and hand over to the people of Vaishali;

(d) if so, the details of action taken till date; and

(e) the plans to provide the above valuable item of historical, archaeological and cultural importance to Vaishali?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)

(a) to (e) A photograph of the bowl received from Embassy of India, Kabul was examined by ASI, which said that the inscription on the outer surface of the bowl indicated that the bowl was connected with some Mosque (may be the Jama Masjid) of the city of Kandahar.

The artifact is presently in Kabul Museum which was asked to provide authentic information about the bowl but cited lack of institutional capacity and destruction of records during the wars for their inability to do so.

http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=143194.

Afghanistan

South Asia