Tawang, Sacred Piprahwa relics linked with Lord Buddha are set to be brought to Arunachal Pradesh for a three-week exposition in the northeast state starting with Tawang on October 31, officials said on Friday.
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, is scheduled to participate in the inaugural ceremony at the historic Gaden Namgyal Lhatse , the culture ministry said.
Excavations at deeper levels revealed two additional reliquary caskets containing ancient bone relics traditionally associated with Lord Buddha, the culture ministry said. The movement and installation of the holy relics are being planned with particular attention to their sanctity, security and conservation requirements. The ministry is hosting the exposition of the Holy Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, in collaboration with the government of Arunachal Pradesh, the International Buddhist Confederation and the National Museum, from October 31 to November 21, it said. After ceremonial observances at the museum on the night of October 30, the relics are planned to be taken to the Air Force Station, Palam, for onward transportation to Arunachal Pradesh, the officials said. As per the proposed movement itinerary, the holy relics are scheduled to depart from Palam in the early hours of October 31 by a special Indian Air Force aircraft and reach the Air Force Station, Borjhar, Guwahati, before being transported by helicopter to Tawang, they said. A further inaugural function, together with the opening of the associated exposition and exhibition, is scheduled for November 1, with Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu as the chief guest, the ministry said. Subsequently, the Archaeological Survey of India conducted further excavations between 1971 and 1977 under the supervision of archaeologist K M Srivastava.
The Ministry of Culture is coordinating with the Ministry of Defence, Indian Air Force, the government of Arunachal Pradesh, the National Museum and other agencies concerned for the necessary operational arrangements, they said.
