New Delhi: After their 15-day stay in Ladakh, the holy relics of Buddha returned to Delhi on Friday. These relics from Piprahwa were flown in on a special Indian Air Force aircraft and are now kept in the National Museum where a separate gallery has been created for it.
During the past two weeks, around 1.18 lakh people paid their respects to the holy relics of Tathagata in Leh and Zanskar. The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena, attended the closing ceremony of the grand exposition of the holy relics of the Tathagata in Leh. These relics travelled to Leh on April 29 and opened for veneration on May 1 coinciding with the 2569th Vesak Buddha Purnima by Union Home Minister Mr Amit Shah.
Along with the public exposition which witnessed large crowds, simultaneous events of significance were organised. Key participants from Buddhist countries including Mongolia and Bhutan played a key part at the highest diplomatic level in India.
The Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), one of the key organisers of the exposition, Mr Abhijit Haldar said, “People of Ladakh have over the years exhibited their leaning towards the national security issues. Being in an area which is strategically located it is the Buddhist faith that gives them a deep sense of confidence and commitment to deliver when it comes to issues related to national defence. The visit of the relic or the `Buddha himself’ strengthens this feeling among the Buddhists in Ladakh.”
He added that the relic exposition was also an occasion that saw a mass scale convergence of people from all areas across Ladakh and Leh which created an atmosphere of bonhomie and excitement within Ladakh. “The travel of the relic and the visit of the Union Home Minister (Mr Amit Shah) in the opening ceremony made a clear indication of the importance and value that Centre accords to the people of Ladakh,” said Mr Haldar.
These relics from Piprahwa are now kept in the National Museum where a separate gallery has been created for the same. There is also a special exhibition of relics on display at the Qila Pithora near Saket in New Delhi.
“There are also plans by the government to set up a large place where most of the relics will be kept together in one place for the blessings of the Buddhist visitors. India is also trying to project the other relics kept in different locations abroad such as those of Satiputta, and Moggaliana. The relic expositions abroad have become extremely popular abroad and India is likely to showcase the relics in a number of countries abroad in the coming times,” said Mr Haldar. The DG added this year the IBC has plans for similar events in the North East states now.
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