A selection of Buddha relics, including four from the collection at the National Museum in Delhi, is set to embark on a journey to Thailand starting Thursday. These relics will be on public display for 26 days alongside relics of his two chief disciples, Sariputta and Maha Moggallana.
Discovered during excavations at Piprahwa village in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, these relics hold immense significance for Buddhists worldwide. This will also mark the first occasion where relics of Buddha and his disciples will be exhibited together.
Accompanied by a 22-member delegation led by Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar, the sacred artifacts will be transported via a special IAF aircraft.
Upon their arrival, a grand ceremony will welcome the relics to the National Museum in Bangkok, where they will be securely housed. From Makha Bucha Day onwards, a religious celebration marking Lord Buddha’s teachings to his disciples, visitors will have the opportunity to pay their respects to the relics.
The relics’ journey across Thailand will include multiple venues, providing devotees and enthusiasts with the chance to honour these revered artifacts. The tour will conclude on March 19, with the relics being flown back to India.