Holy Buddha Relics to Be Opened for Public Darshan in Arunachal

• Sacred Buddha relics to be displayed from October 31 to November 21.
• Public darshan scheduled in Tawang, Bomdila and Namsai.
• Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to attend the Tawang inauguration.
• International Buddhist conference scheduled for November 2.

GG News Bureau
Itanagar, 30th Oct: The Buddha Relics preserved at the National Museum in New Delhi will be taken to Arunachal Pradesh for public veneration from October 31 to November 21, offering devotees an opportunity to pay homage at three important Buddhist centres: Tawang, Bomdila and Namsai.

The exposition is being organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government, the International Buddhist Confederation and the National Museum. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is scheduled to attend the inaugural ceremony at Tawang Monastery on October 31.

The sacred relics will be transported using a special Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopters, with arrangements made to ensure their security, conservation and dignified movement across the region’s challenging terrain.

Three Locations to Host Public Darshan

The exposition will begin at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, also known as Tawang Monastery. The relics will be available for public darshan at the following locations:

• Tawang Monastery: October 31 to November 7
• TGL Monastery (Lower Gompa), Bomdila: November 8 to 13
• Golden Pagoda, Namsai: November 14 to 20

The relics are scheduled to return to the National Museum in New Delhi on November 21.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu is expected to attend the associated inaugural function and exhibition opening at Tawang on November 1.

Sacred Relics Originate from Piprahwa
The relics being taken to Arunachal Pradesh originate from Piprahwa in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district, an archaeological site associated with ancient Kapilavastu and the Shakya tradition of Lord Buddha.

The site came to international attention in 1898 when William Claxton Peppé excavated a stupa and discovered reliquaries containing bone fragments and precious objects.

Further excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India between 1971 and 1977, under archaeologist K. M. Srivastava, uncovered two additional reliquary caskets containing ancient bone relics traditionally associated with Lord Buddha.

The larger casket contained 12 sacred bone fragments and the smaller one contained 10. Of these 22 relics, 20 are preserved at the National Museum in New Delhi, while two are held at the Indian Museum in Kolkata.

Exhibition to Trace Piprahwa’s History
An accompanying exhibition titled Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa: The Story of the Holy Buddha Relics and Their Discovery will be organised at all three locations.

It will showcase the archaeological discoveries at Piprahwa, the history of Buddhist relic veneration and the journey of the Piprahwa heritage, including the efforts that led to the return of the Piprahwa jewel collection to India in 2025.

The exhibition will also highlight the importance of preserving archaeological and religious heritage for future generations.

International Buddhist Conference in Tawang
The International Buddhist Confederation, in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government, will organise an international conference titled Buddhism: Dissemination in the Himalayan Region and Beyond at the Kalawangpo Convention Hall in Tawang on November 2.

The conference will bring together Buddhist monks, scholars and delegates from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and Germany.

Discussions will focus on the historical spread of Buddhism, the continuity of its teachings, monastic traditions and the relevance of Buddhist philosophy to contemporary issues such as sustainable livelihoods, education and peaceful coexistence.

Celebrating Arunachal Pradesh’s Buddhist Heritage
The exposition will bring together different Buddhist traditions followed across Arunachal Pradesh. Tawang and Bomdila are closely associated with Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, while Namsai and adjoining areas have strong Theravada traditions followed by the Tai Khamti and other Buddhist communities.

The initiative aims to strengthen awareness of the state’s Buddhist heritage and promote the values of peace, compassion, non-violence and harmony associated with Lord Buddha’s teachings.

The programme will conclude on November 21 with the ceremonial return of the sacred relics to the National Museum in New Delhi.