Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Grand International Exposition “The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New Delhi. Organised by the Ministry of Culture, this landmark exposition brings together for the first time in over a century the most comprehensive assemblage of the sacred Piprahwa Relics, relic gems and reliquaries of Lord Buddha, including those recently repatriated to India.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said: “After a wait of 125 years, India’s heritage has returned and the nation’s treasured legacy has come back home. From today, the people of India will be able to have darshan of these sacred relics of Lord Buddha and receive His blessings.”
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, said that the presence of the Prime Minister, who has the rare ability to translate the spirit of India into the actions of governance, is always a moment of inspiration and significance. He added that welcoming the Prime Minister on this historic occasion was a matter of immense pride for all.
The inauguration marks a historic moment in India’s cultural and spiritual journey, commemorating the reunification of the Piprahwa relics after 127 years. The collection includes relics from the 1898 excavation at Kapilavastu, findings from the 1972–75 excavations, treasures preserved at the Indian Museum, Kolkata, and the Peppé family collection, repatriated to India in July 2025 following the decisive intervention of the Government of India that halted their auction abroad.
