*Thousands gather to pay respect
Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Apr 29: Thousands of devotees lined the roads of Leh today as the holy Piprahwa relics of Gautam Buddha were taken in a grand procession from the airport to Jivetsal, marking the beginning of a historic spiritual celebration in Ladakh.
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Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena accorded a warm and reverential welcome to the sacred relics upon their arrival from New Delhi. The relics were brought in a special Air Force aircraft, accompanied by Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche and Khenpo Thinlas Chosal of Matho Monastery, and received with ceremonial honours, traditional performances and prayers.
A guard of honour was presented by the Ladakh Police in the presence of prominent religious and public figures, including Ladakh Buddhist Association president Chering Dorjay Lakrook and Ladakh Gonpa Association president, Dorje Stanzin among others .
Though the distance to Jivetsal is barely 10 km, the motorcade took nearly three hours as thousands of devotees from across Ladakh, dressed in traditional attire, lined the route to catch a glimpse of the relics, underscoring widespread faith and unity in the region.
With heads slightly bowed and hands joined, devotees offered their respects in silence, creating a deeply spiritual and moving atmosphere across the town. Cultural performances, including traditional Tibetan dances near Sonamling, added to the spiritual fervour as the relics passed along the route.
Describing the occasion as highly auspicious, the LG said the arrival of the relics has blessed Ladakh. He noted that while the relics have been exhibited internationally in several countries, this is the first time they have been brought out from their original place of preservation for exposition within India.
Saxena also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing Ladakh for the event and highlighted the region’s deep-rooted connection with Buddhism. He urged people to participate in large numbers to seek blessings of Lord Buddha.
The Piprahwa relics have previously been exhibited in countries such as Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, attracting global attention and devotion, according to an official statement.
The relics will be available for public veneration at Jivetsal from May 2 to 10, followed by exposition in Zanskar on May 11 and 12, and thereafter at the Dharma Centre in Leh from May 13 to 14, before being flown back to Delhi on May 15. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with other dignitaries, is expected to visit Leh for veneration during the period.
In view of the expected influx of devotees and tourists, the administration has undertaken extensive preparations across Leh. The LG has directed beautification drives, plantation initiatives, installation of flower pots and city-wide cleanliness campaigns to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for visitors.
Piprahwa relics refers to ancient sacred remains and associated objects linked to Gautama Buddha, discovered at Piprahwa, an archaeological site in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India, near the Nepal border.
The relics have gained renewed global significance in recent years, especially after a collection of associated gems and offerings was repatriated to India in July 2025 from a British family and a private collection, ending over a century of colonial possession.
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