Following the footsteps of Buddha: Buddhist heritage routes in the religious and cultural landscape of contemporary India

The relevance of the research topic is due to the increasing attention of Indian society to the problems of the development of Buddhism in South Asia. The study examines the problems related to the search for an answer to the question of the reasons for the growing interest in Buddhist values both at the level of mass perception and in the politics of India’s leading political parties: both those currently in power (Bharatiya Janata Party) and those aspiring to it (Indian National Congress). The purpose of this study is to identify the peculiarities of the appeal of politicians, philosophers, and members of the Indian public to the Buddhist ideological complex, to show its evolution as a religious teaching and the development of concepts important from the point of view of state building. Forces of different ideological positions find in Buddhism those starting points that contribute to the formation of unified ideas about Indian civilization, which are traditionally associated with the ideas of religious tolerance and social consensus. The study analyzes the role of Buddhism in India’s international activities and its peacemaking orientation. The article shows the importance of pilgrimage practice to places of Buddhist heritage as a factor in the development of national traditions, strengthening the unity of the multi-confessional Indian society, and increasing India’s prestige in the Buddhist world.