The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, the International Buddhist Confederation, and the National Museum, New Delhi, is organizing an exposition of the Holy Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha in Arunachal Pradesh from 31 October to 21 November 2026. The exposition will cover three important Buddhist centers: Tawang (1-7 November), Bomdila (8-13 November), and Namsai (14-20 November), providing devotees and the public an opportunity to pay homage to the Sacred Relics.
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will participate in the inaugural ceremony at Tawang Monastery on 31 October 2026, while Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu, will be the Chief Guest at the further inaugural function on 1 November 2026. The event coincides with Lhabab Düchen, a significant festival in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
The Holy Relics consist of 20 sacred bone fragments from Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh, discovered during Archaeological Survey of India excavations between 1971-1977 under archaeologist Shri K. M. Srivastava. These relics will be transported via special Indian Air Force aircraft from Palam to Guwahati, then by helicopter to Tawang, with careful attention to sanctity, security, and conservation requirements.
An international conference on "Buddhism: Dissemination in the Himalayan Region and Beyond" will be held on 2 November 2026 at Tawang, bringing together monks, scholars, and delegates from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Germany. The conference will focus on three themes: carrying forward Buddha's legacy after Mahāparinirvāṇa, historical and doctrinal continuity of Buddhism, and Buddhism and right livelihood.
An exhibition titled "Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa: The Story of the Holy Buddha Relics and Their Discovery" will accompany the exposition at all three locations, covering the archaeological discoveries at Piprahwa, including the 1898 excavation by William Claxton Peppé and the subsequent return of the Piprahwa jewel collection to India in 2025 after 127 years.
The initiative reflects the Government of India's continuing commitment to the protection, preservation, and dissemination of the country's Buddhist heritage under the principle of "Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi," and follows recent international relic expositions in Mongolia (2022), Thailand (2024), Vietnam (2025), Russia (2025), Bhutan (2025), Sri Lanka (2026), and Ladakh (2026).