Piprahwa Buddha Relics Given Emotional Farewell in Leh After 14-Day Exposition
Over 1.18 lakh devotees attend 14-day spiritual gathering in Ladakh marked by prayers, rituals and cultural events
LEH/JAMMU, May 15: The sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha were accorded a solemn and emotional farewell at Leh Airport on Friday following the conclusion of a historic 14-day exposition in Ladakh that drew more than 1.18 lakh devotees from across the country and abroad.
The farewell ceremony was attended by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena along with monks, officials, spiritual leaders and members of the public representing different communities.
Describing the exposition as a spiritually transformative experience for the region, Saxena said the presence of the holy relics had filled Ladakh with devotion, compassion and peace over the past two weeks.
“From monasteries and remote hamlets to markets and towns, every corner of Ladakh reflected a deep sense of reverence and spiritual awakening,” he said while bidding farewell to the relics with a ceremonial guard of honour at Leh Airport.
The lieutenant governor expressed hope that the teachings of Lord Buddha would continue to inspire harmony, brotherhood and coexistence across the world. He also thanked organisers, volunteers and religious institutions for making the exposition a success.
The relics arrived in Leh on April 29 and received an overwhelming welcome as thousands of residents dressed in traditional attire lined the route from the airport to Jivetsal. The public exposition was formally inaugurated on May 1, coinciding with the 2569th Buddha Purnima celebrations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the opening ceremony during his two-day visit to Ladakh. The event also witnessed the participation of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, diplomats from Sri Lanka and Thailand, Buddhist scholars, senior monks and international pilgrims.
According to officials, the sacred relics remained on display at Jivetsal for nine days before being taken to Karsha Gonpa in Zanskar on May 11 and 12 for special prayers and public .
The exposition featured a series of spiritual discourses, prayer sessions, cultural programmes and conferences centred on Buddhist teachings and world peace.
The concluding ceremonies coincided with Monlam Chenmo, Ladakh’s annual Great Prayer Festival, during which thousands of monks, nuns and devotees gathered to pray for universal peace and wellbeing. Traditional sacred mask dances, known as Chhams, were also performed by monks as part of the celebrations.
