IBNS-CMEDIA: The seven-day exposition of the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi, concluded in Tawang on Saturday, drawing a strong response from devotees and visitors.
A total of 31,000 devotees and visitors visited Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery) to pay their respects to the sacred relics during the seven-day exposition.
The sacred relics arrived in Tawang on October 31, 2026, from the National Museum, New Delhi, with due protocol and ceremonial arrangements. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu ceremonially received the relics in the presence of Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The exposition provided an opportunity for Buddhist monks, senior citizens and members of the general public to pay their respects, offer prayers and seek blessings in the presence of the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Throughout the seven-day exposition, Tawang Monastery witnessed an outpouring of devotion, with devotees arriving from various blocks of Tawang district and neighbouring areas. The large turnout reflected the deep spiritual and cultural significance of the sacred relics among the people of the region.
As part of the exposition, Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated two special exhibitions at Tawang Monastery.
The exhibition, ‘Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa: The Story of the Holy Buddha Relics and Their Discovery’, organised by the International Buddhist Confederation, showcased the historical discovery of the Piprahwa relics in 1898.
The second exhibition, ‘Crossroads of Dhamma: Classical Legacies, Living Art, and Anthropological Perspectives’, curated by the National Museum, New Delhi, offered visitors an opportunity to explore the historical, artistic and cultural legacy of Buddhism and its enduring influence.
On November 2, the International Buddhist Confederation organised an international conference titled ‘Buddhism: Dissemination in the Himalayan Region and Beyond’ at the Kalawangpo Convention Centre in Tawang.
The conference brought together Buddhist scholars, religious leaders and representatives from India and several other countries to deliberate on the dissemination and preservation of Buddhist teachings and heritage in the Himalayan region and beyond.
Following the conclusion of the exposition in Tawang on November 7, the sacred relics will continue their journey to Bomdila, the next destination.
On November 8, the relics will be transported to Bomdila by the Indian Air Force. After a brief halt at Upper Gompa, they will be enshrined at TGL Monastery (Lower Gompa), Bomdila, where they will remain open for public darshan from November 8 to 13.
Thereafter, the sacred relics will move to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai, where they will be available for public darshan from November 14 to 20, before returning to the National Museum, New Delhi, on November 21.
The exposition reflects the Government of India’s continued commitment to preserving and promoting the country’s rich Buddhist heritage and strengthening its cultural and spiritual ties with Buddhist communities across the world.
