The Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Arunachal Pradesh government and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), held the Shakyamuni Buddha relic exhibition in Tawang on 7 November 2026, drawing a massive crowd of devotees and visitors. Over the seven‑day show, a total of 31,000 devotees and visitors came to Gaden Namgyal Lhatsé (Tawang Monastery) to see the relics.
On 31 October 2026, the sacred relics arrived in Tawang from the National Museum in New Delhi following proper protocol and formalities. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu formally received the relics in the presence of Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The exhibition allowed Buddhist monks, senior citizens and the general public to pay homage, pray and receive blessings before the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha. Throughout the seven days, Tawang Monastery saw a massive turnout, with devotees arriving from all blocks of Tawang district and neighbouring areas, underscoring the deep spiritual and cultural significance of the relics for local residents.
As part of the exhibition, Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated two special displays at Tawang Monastery. The International Buddhist Confederation’s exhibit titled “Unraveling the Sacred Piprahwa: The Story of the Holy Buddha Relics and Their Discovery” showcased the 1898 archaeological find of the Piprahwa relics. The second exhibit, “Crossroads of Dharma: Classical Legacies, Living Art, and Anthropological Perspectives,” prepared by the National Museum, New Delhi, offered visitors insight into Buddhism’s historical, artistic and cultural heritage and its enduring impact.
On 2 November 2026, the International Buddhist Confederation hosted an international conference titled “Buddhism: Dissemination in the Himalayan Region and Beyond” at the Kalawangpo Convention Centre in Tawang. Buddhist scholars, religious leaders and delegates from India and several other countries gathered to discuss the propagation and preservation of Buddhist teachings and heritage in the Himalayan region and beyond.
After the exhibition closed in Tawang on 7 November, the relics will move to their next stop, Bomdila. The Indian Air Force will transport the sacred relics to Bomdila on 8 November 2026. Following a brief stay at Upper Gompha, they will be installed at the TGL Monastery (Lower Gompha) in Bomdila, where they will be on public view from 8 to 13 November 2026.
Subsequently, the relics will be taken to the Golden Pagoda in Namchi, where they will be displayed to the public from 14 to 20 November 2026. They will return to the National Museum in New Delhi on 21 November 2026.
The exhibition demonstrates the Government of India’s ongoing commitment to preserving and promoting the country’s rich Buddhist heritage and strengthening cultural and spiritual ties with Buddhist communities worldwide.