Historic Buddha Relics Journey from Gujarat to Sri Lanka

Lord Buddha's relics, including ashes and a ceremonious robe, will be displayed in Sri Lanka for a week starting February 4. These relics, preserved in Gujarat, are part of a cultural exchange program. The exhibition coincides with the Sri Lankan New Year, highlighting strong bilateral cultural ties.

In a significant cultural exchange, the relics of Lord Buddha, preserved in Vadodara, Gujarat, will be displayed in Sri Lanka for a week from February 4. Included in this exhibition are Lord Buddha's 'asthi' (holy ashes), a ceremonial robe, and a stone reliquary box, adorned with inscriptions and silver and gold wires.

The Gujarat Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, paid his respects to the relics at the Department of Archaeology and Ancient Studies at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. The relics will be transported to Sri Lanka via Delhi and will reach Colombo during the Sri Lankan New Year. The display aims to strengthen cultural bonds between India and Sri Lanka.

These sacred relics, discovered near Devnimori in Gujarat, were secured by Maharaja Sayajirao University after excavations confirmed a once-flourishing Buddhist monastery site. The exhibition aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2025 agreement to enhance India-Sri Lanka cultural ties and is particularly significant for Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority.

(With inputs from agencies.)