May 6, 2025 8:29 PM
India acts swiftly to block Sotheby’s sale of sacred Buddha relics
The Centre has launched a strong diplomatic and legal offensive to block the proposed auction of sacred Piprahwa Relics—believed to be remains of Lord Buddha—by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. The relics, which include bone fragments, crystal caskets, gold ornaments, and other ancient offerings, were excavated in 1898 from the Piprahwa Stupa in present-day Uttar Pradesh—widely identified as the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. An inscription in Brahmi script on one o...