Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Grand International Exposition titled The Light and the Lotus Relics of the Awakened One at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi, marking the return of one of India’s most treasured spiritual legacies after more than a century. The exhibition brings together, for the first time in over 125 years, the most comprehensive collection of the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha, including those recently repatriated to India.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister described the moment as historic, stating that after a wait of 125 years, India’s heritage had finally returned home. He said the reunification of the sacred relics allows the people of India to once again have darshan of the relics of Lord Buddha and receive his blessings, reaffirming the nation’s deep spiritual and civilisational roots.
The landmark exposition has been organised by the Ministry of Culture and commemorates the reunification of the Piprahwa relics after 127 years. The collection includes relics unearthed during the 1898 excavation at Kapilavastu, artefacts from subsequent excavations conducted between 1972 and 1975, treasures preserved at the Indian Museum in Kolkata, and the Peppé family collection. The latter was repatriated to India in July 2025 following decisive intervention by the Government of India, which successfully halted their auction overseas.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the Prime Minister’s presence on the occasion was deeply inspiring, noting that he possesses a rare ability to translate the spirit of India into concrete actions of governance. He added that welcoming the Prime Minister at such a significant cultural milestone was a moment of pride for the nation.
On arrival at the venue, the Prime Minister was received by the Chief Minister of Delhi Rekha Gupta, along with senior Union Ministers, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and other dignitaries. During his visit, the Prime Minister undertook a detailed walkthrough of the exhibition, offered khataak and rose petals at the sculpture of the Seated Buddha, consecrated an ancient seal excavated from the Piprahwa site, planted a Bodhi tree sapling, signed the visitors’ book, released the official exhibition catalogue, and offered chivar daan to the venerable Buddhist monks present.
Curated under the theme The Light and the Lotus Relics of the Awakened One, the exposition showcases more than 80 rare and exceptional objects dating from the sixth century BCE to the present day. These include sculptures, manuscripts, thangkas, ritual objects, reliquaries and jewelled treasures, with the monolithic stone coffer in which the sacred relics were originally discovered forming the centrepiece of the exhibition.
The Piprahwa relics were unearthed in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé at an ancient stupa site identified with Kapilavastu, closely associated with the life of the Buddha. Their reunification is widely regarded as one of the most significant achievements in India’s ongoing efforts to reclaim and preserve its cultural patrimony.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has intensified its global engagement through cultural diplomacy rooted in its civilisational heritage. So far, 642 antiquities have been repatriated to India, with the return of the Piprahwa relics standing out as a landmark achievement in heritage preservation and international cultural cooperation.
The inauguration was attended by Union Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, ambassadors, senior government officials, scholars, heritage experts, artists, students, and followers of Buddhism from India and abroad. The exhibition reinforces India’s position as the birthplace of the Buddha Dhamma and reflects the Ministry of Culture’s commitment to safeguarding and sharing the nation’s spiritual and cultural legacy with the world.
