The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, is organizing an exposition of sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha at Tawang Monastery. More than 21,000 devotees from Tawang and neighboring regions of Arunachal Pradesh have visited Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery) to offer prayers and pay homage to the relics. The exposition will remain open to the public until November 7, 2026.
This event holds special historical and spiritual significance as the sacred relics have returned to Arunachal Pradesh after a gap of 13 years. The relics were brought from the National Museum in New Delhi and were originally discovered at Piprahwah in Uttar Pradesh in 1898, marking an important milestone in the archaeological history of Buddhism.
Two special exhibitions have been organized alongside the relics display: 'Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa: The Story of the Holy Buddha Relics and Their Discovery' by International Buddhist Confederation, and 'Crossroads of Dhamma: Classical Legacies, Living Art, and Anthropological Perspectives' curated by the National Museum, New Delhi.
Following the Tawang exposition, the sacred relics will be moved to TGL Monastery (Lower Gompa) in Bomdilla from November 8 to 13, 2026, and then to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai from November 14 to 20, 2026. The relics are scheduled to return to the National Museum, New Delhi on November 21, 2026. This initiative reflects the Government of India's commitment to preserving and promoting the country's rich Buddhist heritage.
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