After a 14-day exposition in Ladakh, the sacred relics of Lord Buddha returned to New Delhi, to the National Museum, on Friday. As a part of the ‘Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of the Tathagata,’ the relics travelled to Leh and Zanskar. The exposition, which saw participation of monks, dignitaries and the public, had concluded on Thursday at the Dharma Centre, Choglamsar.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said the successful organisation of the Sacred Exposition reflects the region’s deep-rooted traditions of harmony, compassion and coexistence.
Meanwhile, Ladakh Gonpa Association’s (LGA) president Dorjey Stanzin described the presence of the Holy Relics in Ladakh as a source of spiritual blessing, peace and inspiration for the people of the region. And Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) president Tsering Dorjey Lakrook underlined the importance of preserving Ladakh’s spiritual and cultural heritage through such gatherings.
A return after 75 years
The Holy Relics of the Tathagata had arrived in Leh from the National Museum in New Delhi on April 27 and were opened for veneration on the occasion of the 2569th Vesak Buddha Purnima on May 1.
The exposition was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his two-day trip to the Union Territory. “When the Dalai Lama comes here, he says that this land is not merely geographical but a living laboratory of Buddhist culture and compassion,” Shah had said, adding that whenever Buddhism faced any challenge, Ladakh had helped preserve Lord Buddha’s message.
Alongside the exposition, parallel events including talks, exhibitions, film screenings and cultural programmes were organised at Leh Market and saw widespread participation. These events were organised by the Union Ministry of Culture, the Government of the Union Territory of Ladakh, and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), among others.
This marked the second time that Lord Buddha’s Holy Relics had travelled to Ladakh. The last time it was in 1951. The relics, regarded by followers as embodying Lord Buddha himself, hold special significance in Ladakh, where about 40 per cent of the population is Buddhist.
