Followers from 35 countries came to the international Buddhist forum.

The third International Buddhist Forum, which brought together participants from 35 countries, is taking place in the capital of Kalmykia, Elista. The event is dedicated not only to spiritual development, but also to international cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism and economics. This was announced on September 27 by the correspondent of Izvestia Yaroslav Bogat.

Elista, famous for its pagodas, prayer drums and constant winds, welcomes thousands of pilgrims from all over the world every year. The central object for believers is the Golden Monastery of Shakyamuni Buddha, the largest Buddhist temple in Europe, where services have been held daily without interruption for more than 20 years.

The forum gathers about 500 delegates: monks, philosophers, scientists and representatives of cultural communities.

"It is an honor for me to be invited to the Buddhist forum. I have been coming to Russia since 1996 and have always said that I have great experiences, but I have never been to Kalmykia, and I am impressed that Buddhism in Russia is wow, I love Russia," said Hollywood actor, stuntman, director Mark Dacascos.

The forum participants note that the event creates a platform for dialogue and exchange of values of Buddhist teachings, as well as contributes to strengthening international relations, promoting tourism and pilgrimage in the region. The authorities of Kalmykia expect that the forum will have a positive impact on the development of the republic and attract the attention of the world Buddhist community to Russia.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Dacascos came to Elista for the first time to participate in the III International Buddhist Forum. In an interview with Izvestia, he said that Buddhism has always aroused his deep interest. In addition, Dacascos noted that before becoming an actor, he wanted to be a Buddhist monk.

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