LEH: Home Minister Amit Shah led a significant gathering of thousands of Buddhists on Friday to commemorate the return of the mortal remains of Lord Buddha to what he described as the “living land of Dhamma.” The relics, which had not been in Ladakh since 1950, brought a festive atmosphere to Leh city, where men, women, and children, clad in traditional attire, gathered at ‘Jivetsal’ to witness the auspicious ceremony marked by prayers and rituals.
At the inauguration of a fortnight-long exposition featuring the sacred Piprahwa relics, Shah stated that their return to Ladakh after 75 years represents a “historic reunion.” He highlighted that the celebrations aim to bolster India’s standing as the homeland of Lord Buddha and Buddhism, a claim that has faced skepticism from some quarters.
In his address, Shah recalled the Dalai Lama’s sentiments that Ladakh serves not merely as a geographic location but as a living embodiment of Buddhist culture and compassion. He emphasized that the message of peace and compassion, propagated by Indian civilization for millennia, has acquired renewed relevance in a world often fraught with unrest and conflict.
This year’s 2569th Buddha Purnima is characterized not only as a significant religious event but also as a historic reunion. Shah noted that the challenges of accessibility and infrastructure in 1950 would have limited the ability of many to pay their respects to the relics. He expressed confidence that, this time, Buddhists from both Leh and Kargil, alongside individuals of other faiths, would be able to honor the sacred remnants.
Over the years, the Piprahwa bone relics have been displayed in various countries, including Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, drawing widespread attention and reverence. Excavated in 1898 by William Claxton Peppe, these relics are linked to the Piprahwa stupa in Kapilvastu—part of present-day Uttar Pradesh—which is considered the ancestral home of the Sakya clan of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, touching on the theme of the exposition “Peace Beyond Borders,” remarked on the timeliness and significance of the event amid global unrest and ideological conflicts. Tsering Dorjay Lakrook, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, noted a prevailing festive spirit among the people, which they attribute to favorable signs in nature, including a rainbow seen above Spituk Monastery following the arrival of the relics in Leh.
