The sacred relics of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha arrived at the Gaden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery) on Saturday, marking a historic spiritual occasion for Arunachal Pradesh and offering devotees an opportunity to pay homage during a 20-day exposition across the state.
The relics, brought from the National Museum in New Delhi, were received by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and the Abbot of Tawang Monastery, Phara Damey Tulku, in the presence of monks and devotees.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao, MLAs from Tawang, West Kameng and Namsai, Chief Secretary and senior officials from the Ministry of Culture, National Museum and International Buddhist Confederation also attended the programme.
The sacred relics originate from the ancient Piprahwa Stupa in Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar district, an archaeological site closely associated with ancient Kapilavastu, the homeland of the Shakya clan to which Lord Buddha belonged.
The arrival marks the return of the sacred Piprahwa relics to Tawang after a gap of 13 years. The 20-day exposition will be held across Tawang, Bomdila and Namsai from October 31 to November 21, providing devotees with an opportunity to pay homage and seek blessings.
Khandu described the occasion as an immense honour for Arunachal Pradesh and expressed gratitude to the Indian Air Force for safely transporting the relics from New Delhi to Tawang.
He also expressed gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his message, prayers and good wishes on the exposition. Referring to the spiritual leader's message, the Chief Minister said the opportunity to view the relics should inspire people not only to seek blessings but also to deepen their understanding of Buddhism through study, reflection and practice.
Khandu said the state government remained committed to preserving Arunachal Pradesh's rich Buddhist heritage and promoting the values of peace, compassion and harmony.
The Chief Minister urged people to draw inspiration from the teachings of Lord Buddha and practise compassion, wisdom and universal brotherhood in their daily lives.
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