Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics related to Gautam Buddha on Saturday, emphasizing their profound significance to India's heritage and civilization. The event, held at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi, marked the return of these relics to India after 125 years. The exposition, titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”, showcases the relics alongside archaeological materials preserved in Indian museums.

Modi stated that the sacred relics are not merely artifacts but an integral part of India's revered heritage and an inseparable part of its civilization. He highlighted that the wisdom and path shown by Buddha belong to all of humanity, uniting people across nations. He expressed hope that with the blessings of Lord Buddha, 2026 would usher in a new era of peace, prosperity, and harmony for the world.

The Prime Minister noted that the relics were nearly auctioned off in Hong Kong last May, but the Indian government and the Godrej Group intervened to prevent it. Modi expressed gratitude to the Godrej Group for their cooperation in ensuring the relics' return to the land associated with Buddha's life, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana. He emphasized that India considers them sacred and integral to its civilizational identity.

Modi also spoke about his personal connection to Buddhist traditions, recalling that his birthplace, Vadnagar, was a major center of Buddhist learning, and Sarnath, where Buddha delivered his first sermon, is his karmabhoomi. He mentioned his visits to Buddhist sites across the world, including Lumbini in Nepal, Japan, China, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Singapore, highlighting the enduring global impact of Buddha's message.

The Prime Minister emphasized that India is not only the custodian of Buddha's sacred relics but also a living carrier of his timeless tradition. He noted the continuous efforts made to contribute to the development of Buddhist heritage sites across the world, modernizing these sites and building new facilities for pilgrims. Modi also mentioned the effort to promote the Pali language, in which Buddha's teachings were originally given, and its recognition as a classical language.

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 deposits directly connected to Buddha. Archaeological evidence associates the Piprahwa site with ancient Kapilavastu, widely identified as the place where Buddha spent his early life before his renunciation.