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Ministry of Culture to host ‘Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Tathagata’ From 1-14 May 2026 in Leh-Ladakh

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01.05.2026 to 14.05.2026
Ministry of Culture to host ‘Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Tathagata’ From 1-14 May 2026 in Leh-Ladakh

Hon’ble Union Minister for Culture & Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Shri V. K. Saxena unveiled the details of the ‘Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Tathagata: Peace Beyond Borders’ during a press interaction held at the National Museum in New Delhi on 22 April 2026.

The exposition is scheduled to take place from May 1 to May 14, 2026, in key locations across the Union Territory of Ladakh, including Jivetsal, Choglamsar, Leh, and Zanskar. This event is being organised to commemorate the 2569th Vesak Buddha Purnima. It is a collaborative effort involving the National Museum, the Archaeological Survey of India, the International Buddhist Confederation, the Ladakh Gonpa Association, the Ladakh Buddhist Association, and the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre. The exposition will be open for public veneration from May 2 to May 14, 2026, offering devotees a unique opportunity to pay homage to the holy relics and engage in spiritual reflection and practice. These Sacred Buddha Relics were discovered 18 feet beneath an ancient brick stupa in Uttar Pradesh, built by the Sakya clan.

The build-up to the exposition will feature special prayer ceremonies at various locations, including Takthok Gonpa on April 23, Chemdey Gonpa on April 24, Hemis Gonpa on April 25, Matho Gonpa on April 26, Stakna Gonpa on April 27, and Thiksey Gonpa on April 28. The relics are expected to travel to Zanskar on May 11 and 12, and will also be displayed at the Dharma Centre in Choglamsar on May 13 and 14, before returning to New Delhi on May 15, 2026.

Additionally, a series of events will be held across Ladakh alongside the exposition. These events will include exhibitions of Buddhist artefacts and scriptures at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies and Leh Palace, as well as meditation and yoga sessions, medical health camps, and interfaith dialogues at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre. Major conferences and seminars on themes such as Himalayan Buddhism, Peace in Times of Conflict, and the Past, Present, and Future of Buddhism in Ladakh are also planned.

The exposition is expected to attract pilgrims, scholars, and visitors from India and abroad, reinforcing Ladakh's status as an important centre of Buddhist heritage. It presents a valuable opportunity to reconnect with the Buddha's timeless message of compassion and peace.