The sacred relics of Lord Buddha, brought from the National Museum in New Delhi, were ceremonially received at the historic Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, marking the beginning of a special exposition showcasing India’s rich Buddhist heritage.
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu received the holy Piprahwa Relics in the presence of Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Buddhist monks, religious leaders and devotees at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, popularly known as Tawang Monastery.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Government, the International Buddhist Confederation and the National Museum, the exposition will travel across three major Buddhist centres in the state — Tawang, Bomdila and Namsai — from October 31 to November 21, 2026.
In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness over the exposition, describing it as an occasion 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 pride and joy, expressing confidence that the initiative would strengthen awareness of India’s Buddhist heritage.
The exposition also coincides with Lhabab Duchen, an important occasion in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition that commemorates Lord 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 considerable 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 archaeological discoveries at Piprahwa, the significance of relic veneration and the history of the relics, including their 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.
The exposition will remain at Tawang Monastery from November 1 to 7, followed by TGL Monastery (Lower Gompa) in Bomdila from November 8 to 13. It will then move to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai from November 14 to 20. The relics are scheduled to return to the National Museum in New Delhi on November 21.
The initiative aims to bring India’s Buddhist heritage closer to communities in the Northeast while promoting the teachings of Lord Buddha, including peace, compassion, non-violence and harmony.
Through the exposition, the government seeks to preserve and promote India’s Buddhist civilisational heritage and strengthen its historical and spiritual ties with Buddhist communities across the world.
-PIB
