NEW DELHI, Jan 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics, titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”, on January 3, at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi, a government release said on Thursday.
The exposition brings together, for the first time, the repatriated Piprahwa relics with authentic relics and archaeological materials from Piprahwa preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi, and the Indian Museum, Kolkata.
The Piprahwa relics, discovered in 1898, hold a central place in the archaeological study of early Buddhism and are among the earliest and most historically significant relic deposits directly connected to Bhagwan Buddha.
The exposition highlights India’s deep and continuing civilizational link with the teachings of Bhagwan Buddha and reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment to preserve India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.
“The exposition marks an important moment in India’s cultural and diplomatic history, as the relics on display include repatriated sacred relics of immense historical, archaeological, and spiritual significance, revered by Buddhist communities across the world,” said the Ministry of Culture.
The exhibition is organised thematically, featuring a reconstructed interpretive model inspired by the Sanchi stupa, and includes sections on Piprahwa Revisited, Vignettes of the Life of Buddha, and Expansion of Buddhist Art and Ideals Beyond Borders.
A comprehensive audio-visual component, including immersive films and digital reconstructions, enhances public understanding of the relics and their significance.
(UNI)
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