Itanagar: More than 21,000 devotees have visited Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh to pay homage to the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, with the exposition scheduled to remain open until November 7.
The relics, brought from the National Museum in New Delhi, have returned to Arunachal Pradesh after 13 years. The exposition has drawn devotees from Tawang and neighbouring areas, along with Buddhist monks and nuns.
The relics were discovered at Piprahwah in Uttar Pradesh in 1898 and are regarded as significant to Buddhist history and heritage.
Two exhibitions have also been set up at the monastery to showcase the legacy of Buddhism. The International Buddhist Confederation’s exhibition, ‘Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa’, traces the discovery and history of the relics, while the National Museum’s ‘Crossroads of Dhamma’ explores Buddhist art, culture and traditions.
After the Tawang exposition, the relics will be displayed at TGL Monastery in Bomdilla from November 8 to 13 and at the Golden Pagoda in Namsai from November 14 to 20. They are scheduled to return to the National Museum on November 21.
The exposition is being organised by the Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation and the Arunachal Pradesh government to promote India’s Buddhist heritage and the teachings of peace, compassion and universal brotherhood.
