The chariot was actually motorised to suit the needs of the 21st century. It featured a swan’s head as a kind of prow and was equipped with several mini-temples. Saffron-robed Buddhist monks sat on the chariot and prayed for a safe trip.
After the cavalcade departed from Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace, Buddhists from all walks of life joined it as it made its way to the hilltop sanctuary. The route followed was designed to avoid elevated power lines and other overhead objects which could be seen as insulting to the sacred head of Buddha.
The urn and its contents were stolen in 2013, but recovered the following year. The relics were stored at the palace until Friday’s ceremonies to return them to their rightful home at Oudong Temple. The relics were a gift from Sri Lanka in 1957 and were presented to the late and revered King Norodom Sihanouk.
Procession returns looted Buddha relics to Phnom Penh temple
News in Asia
Cambodians turned out in their thousands on Friday to join a procession returning looted holy artefacts to a temple near Phnom Penh. Relics said to belong to Buddha and contained in an urn were placed on a golden chariot for the 40km journey to Oudong Temple.