The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the International Buddhist Confederation, concluded the seven-day sacred exposition of the Holy Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha at Tawang Monastery on November 7, 2026. The event attracted 31,000 devotees and visitors who came for darshan of the sacred relics at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery).
The sacred relics arrived in Tawang on October 31, 2026, from the National Museum, New Delhi, with ceremonial arrangements. Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Pema Khandu received the relics in the presence of Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The exposition saw participation from Buddhist monks, senior citizens, and the general public from all blocks of Tawang district and neighboring areas.
As part of the event, two special exhibitions were inaugurated at Tawang Monastery. The first exhibition, 'Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa: The Story of the Holy Buddha Relics and Their Discovery' organized by the International Buddhist Confederation, showcased the historical discovery of Piprahwa relics in 1898. The second exhibition, 'Crossroads of Dhamma: Classical Legacies, Living Art, and Anthropological Perspectives' curated by the National Museum, explored the historical, artistic, and cultural legacy of Buddhism.
On November 2, 2026, the International Buddhist Confederation organized an international conference titled 'Buddhism: Dissemination in the Himalayan Region and Beyond' at Kalawangpo Convention Centre, Tawang, bringing together Buddhist scholars, religious leaders, and representatives from India and other countries.
The sacred relics will now move to Bomdila, transported by the Indian Air Force on November 8, 2026. After a brief halt at Upper Gompa, the relics will be enshrined at TGL Monastery (Lower Gompa), Bomdila, for public darshan from November 8 to 13, 2026. Subsequently, the relics will move to Golden Pagoda, Namsai, for public viewing from November 14 to 20, 2026, before returning to the National Museum, New Delhi, on November 21, 2026.
The exposition reflects the Government of India's commitment to preserving and promoting India's Buddhist heritage and strengthening cultural and spiritual connections with Buddhist communities worldwide.