Sacred relics of Lord Buddha, preserved at the National Museum in Delhi, will be on public display at three Buddhist centres in Arunachal Pradesh for a month, starting today.
The relics are scheduled to return to the National Museum in New Delhi on November 21.
Officials said the initiative aims to promote India’s Buddhist heritage, strengthen cultural links with Himalayan Buddhist communities and spread Buddha’s message of compassion, non-violence and harmony.
Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will attend the inaugural ceremony at the historic Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery). The exposition, organised by the Union ministry of culture in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh government, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the National Museum, will subsequently travel to Bomdila and Namsai. The sacred remains, known as the Piprahwa relics, originate from an archaeological site in Uttar Pradesh associated with ancient Kapilavastu and the Shakya tradition of Buddha. Their transportation to Arunachal Pradesh will involve special Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopters, with arrangements being coordinated by the culture ministry, defence ministry and the state government. The exposition coincides with Lhabab Düchen, an important festival in Tibetan Buddhism commemorating Buddha’s descent from the heavenly realm.
Chief minister Pema Khandu is scheduled to attend a special inaugural programme at Tawang on November 1.
