Buddha
Holy Buddha relics return to India after 100 years, Arunachal Pradesh hosts grand exposition
The sacred Holy Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, preserved at the National Museum in New Delhi, were ceremonially received by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu in Tawang on Monday, marking the beginning of a major exposition showcasing India's rich Buddhist heritage.
The sacred relics were accorded a traditional religious welcome at the historic Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery) in the presence of Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Buddhist monks, religious leaders and devotees.
The exposition is being organised by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the National Museum, New Delhi.
The initiative will provide devotees and members of the public an opportunity to pay homage to the sacred relics at three important centres of Buddhist faith — Tawang, Bomdila and Namsai.
The inaugural ceremony in Tawang was attended by Shekhawat, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, senior Buddhist monks, representatives of the International Buddhist Confederation, other dignitaries and devotees.
In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness over the exposition of the Holy Relics of Bhagwan Buddha in Arunachal Pradesh, describing it as an event of immense spiritual and cultural significance.
He highlighted the return of the sacred Piprahwa Relics to India after more than a century as a moment of immense pride and joy. He also expressed confidence that the exposition would further strengthen appreciation of India's rich Buddhist heritage and the universal teachings of Bhagwan Buddha.
The exposition holds special spiritual significance as it coincides with Lhabab Duchen, an important occasion in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition commemorating Buddha's descent from the heavenly realm.
The sacred relics originate from Piprahwa in Uttar Pradesh, an archaeological site associated with ancient Kapilavastu and the Shakya tradition of Lord Buddha. Preserved at the National Museum in New Delhi, the relics hold immense historical, archaeological and spiritual significance for Buddhist communities.
An accompanying exhibition, titled Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa: The Story of the Holy Buddha Relics and Their Discovery, will showcase the history of archaeological discoveries at Piprahwa, the significance of relic veneration and the journey of the Piprahwa heritage, including its repatriation to India.
The International Buddhist Confederation, in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government, will also organise an international conference titled “Buddhism: Dissemination in the Himalayan Region and Beyond” at the Kalawangpo Convention Hall in Tawang on November 2, 2026.
The exposition will remain open at Tawang Monastery from November 1 to 7, followed by TGL Monastery (Lower Gompa) in Bomdila from November 8 to 13 and the Golden Pagoda in Namsai from November 14 to 20.
The sacred relics are scheduled to return to the National Museum in New Delhi on November 21, 2026.
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