Southeast Asian country Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has become the first country to issue a postage stamp featuring the Hindu god, Shri Ram Lalla of Ayodhya. The stamp was released during Bharat’s external affairs minister, Dr S. Jaishankar’s visit to the country, showcasing the deep cultural and civilizational ties between Bharat and the Southeast Asian nation.
In a ceremony held in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, Dr Jaishankar and Lao PDR’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith jointly unveiled the special commemorative postage stamp of Shri Ram Lalla. Bharat’s ambassador to the Southeast Asian country, Prashant Agrawal, was also present at the event, which coincided with Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to the ASEAN meetings.
The stamp set includes two unique stamps: one depicting Bhagwan Buddha of Luang Prabang, an ancient capital of Laos and a significant Buddhist site, and the other portraying Shri Ram Lalla of Ayodhya. Buddhism has historically created a strong connection between the two nations, with Bharat being the birthplace of Buddhism and home to many important sites related to the faith, which is widely followed in Southeast Asia.
The murti of Bhagwan Ram installed in the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is a five-year-old child (Ram Lalla) made from dark-coloured stone and standing 51 inches tall. Artist Arun Yogiraj sculpted it. The murti of Shri Ram Lalla was ceremoniously placed in the Mandir’s sanctum sanctorum on January 22, 2024.
The Ramayana is a revered epic in Bharat and holds a special place in Laotian culture where the Ramayana is known as Ramakien or the Story of Phra Lak Phra Ram and is often performed during auspicious occasions. The theme of the stamp set, “Celebrating Shared Cultural Heritage of Lao PDR and India,” symbolizes the long-standing historical ties between the two nations.
(Featured Image Source: India TV)
