More than 21,000 devotees have so far paid homage to the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha at Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh, the Culture Ministry said.
The relics are at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery) and the exposition stays open until 7 November 2026. It is the first time in 13 years that they have returned to Arunachal Pradesh. They were brought from the National Museum in New Delhi.
Why the relics matter
The relics were found at Piprahwah in Uttar Pradesh in 1898, a discovery the ministry calls a milestone in the archaeological history of Buddhism.
Two exhibitions run alongside: "Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa", by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), on the discovery and its history; and "Crossroads of Dhamma", curated by the National Museum, on the historical, artistic and cultural sides of Buddhism.
Where they go next
- 8 to 13 November: TGL Monastery (Lower Gompa), Bomdila
- 14 to 20 November: Golden Pagoda, Namsai
- 21 November: return to the National Museum, New Delhi
The Ministry of Culture is organising the exposition with the IBC and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
Photos
Source: official release by the Ministry of Culture, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (06 NOV 2026 9:55AM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: More Than 21,000 Devotees Pay Homage to Sacred Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha at Tawang Monastery.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2333411) issued by the Ministry of Culture on 06 NOV 2026 9:55AM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.More Than 21,000 Devotees Pay Homage to Sacred Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha at Tawang Monastery — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
