Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described the return of the Piprahwa relics associated with Lord Buddha as a “moment of pride, reverence and cultural connect” for India.
Sharing highlights of the event in a post on X, the Prime Minister said the return of the sacred relics after more than a century marks a significant cultural milestone.
PM Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics, titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One,” at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi.
The exhibition marks a historic moment with the reunification of the Piprahwa gem relics of Lord Buddha, which were repatriated after 127 years. The display includes relics, gem relics, and reliquaries discovered during the 1898 excavation and later excavations conducted between 1971 and 1975 at the Piprahwa site.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said India’s priceless heritage has returned to the country after a wait of more than 125 years. He noted that Indian citizens will now be able to have darshan of the sacred relics and seek the blessings of Lord Buddha, calling the occasion one of national pride.
“We are grateful to have the relics of Lord Buddha among us. Slavery destroys a nation’s heritage, and the same happened with these sacred relics. They were taken away from India, and there were attempts to auction them in the international market,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that for India, the relics are an integral part of its spiritual and cultural identity, which is why the government took steps to stop their auction and ensure their return to the country.
