Tsewang Rigzin
LEH, Apr 25: Ladakh is set to witness a rare and deeply significant spiritual event as the sacred relics of Gautama Buddha, revered as Tathagata relics, will be brought to the region for the first time within the country. The arrival of these holy relics, expected in Leh on the 29th or 30th of this month, has generated immense excitement among the people of Ladakh, particularly within the Buddhist community.
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The relics will be transported by a special aircraft under Z-category security to ensure their safety and sanctity. In preparation, the Ladakh Buddhist Association has urged residents to decorate homes, monasteries, and other religious sites with prayer flags, and to whitewash mani walls and stupas to welcome the sacred relics in a traditional manner.
This year, Buddha Purnima on May 1 will be observed on an unprecedented scale at the Jive-Tsal teaching ground (the same venue where Dalai Lama delivers teachings). The event is being jointly organized by the Ladakh Gompa Association, the Ladakh Buddhist Association, and the UT administration.
Beginning May 2, the relic exposition will be conducted in a phased manner, enabling devotees from across Ladakh to receive blessings according to a structured schedule. The programme will start with Nubra and Durbuk block on 2nd May, followed by Nyoma and Kharu block on 3rd May, and Sham up to Saspol including Aryan region on 4th May.
On 5th May, devotees from Likir to Stakna-including Likir, Ney, Bsago, Nimoo, Umla, Taru, Phyang, Phey, Rumbak, Rumchung belt, Sku Markha belt, Chiling, Sumdha, Spituk, Spituk Pharka, Palam, Choglamsar, Gawoo, Saboo, Chuchot Shamma, Gongma, Yokma, Stok, Matho, Shey, Thiksay, Stakmo, Nang, Rambirpur and Stakna-will participate. This will be followed by Leh Phudo-Gangles to Skara on 6th May, covering Government employees, army and paramilitary personnel, and Ladakh Police, while New Settlement is scheduled for 7th May.
The Tibetan, Tamang and Sharpa community will attend on 8th May, Kargil region on 9th May, and students from all schools and colleges, including SOS TCV, on 10th May.
The sacred exposition will then extend to Zanskar from the 11th to 12th of next month, before concluding with a closing ceremony in Leh on the 14th. The relics are scheduled to depart on the 15th of next month. The Sacred Exposition is expected to be a significant spiritual and cultural event, offering devotees and visitors a rare opportunity to pay homage to the relics while also celebrating and promoting the rich Buddhist heritage of Ladakh.
Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh under the leadership of Lt Governor VK Saxena has already convened several meetings in preperation to the exposition of the sacred relics.
A similar historic moment was witnessed in 1950, when another sacred relics of the Buddha were brought to Ladakh following a request by Kushok Bakula Rinpoche to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. The relics, preserved by the Mahabodhi Society of India, were flown to Leh and received with immense devotion by thousands of monks, nuns and devotees. As per sources, the relics remained in Ladakh for 79 days, during which they were taken across various regions including Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Kargil, allowing people from even the most remote areas to have darshan and receive blessings.
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