In a gesture of spiritual and cultural fellowship, sacred Buddha relics from the National Museum in New Delhi have been transported to Bhutan for public exposition from November 8 to 18, 2025. This event is part of the Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF) in Thimphu, an event focused on world peace and healing. The exposition also coincides with the 70th birthday of Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the fourth King of Bhutan.
The event is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Culture, the Government of India, and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). This marks the second time the relics have been displayed in Bhutan, the first being in 2011 during the wedding celebrations of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar is leading the Indian delegation, which includes senior monks and officials. The relics, considered sacred symbols of the Buddha's life and teachings, will be placed for public viewing at the Kuenrey Hall of Tashichho Dzong, an important administrative and monastic center in Thimphu.
Bhutan's Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, expressed his gratitude to the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating the visit of the relics. He also highlighted the significance of the GPPF as an initiative conceived by the King to promote peace.
To enrich the spiritual experience, the IBC will host three exhibitions focusing on India's Buddhist heritage. These include exhibitions on the life of Guru Padmasambhava, the excavation and history of Buddha relics, and the life and teachings of the Buddha. The National Museum of India will also display select sculptures from its Buddhist Art and Heritage Gallery.
Buddhism has long been central to Bhutan's cultural identity, shaping its religious institutions, heritage sites, and development philosophy, including the principle of Gross National Happiness. The exposition reflects the shared Buddhist heritage between India and Bhutan. Similar relic exhibitions have been organized by India in Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam and Russia's Kalmykia region. The recent exposition of Buddha's sacred relics in Russia's Kalmykia Republic, held in October 2025, marked the first-ever public display of the relics in Russia.
Dr. Virendra Kumar stated that the event reflects India's spiritual heritage and its tradition of friendship and peace. The exposition of the relics in Bhutan is a symbol of peace, a celebration of shared heritage, and a reaffirmation of the bonds between India and Bhutan.
