India to Exhibit Sacred Devnimori Buddha Relics in Sri Lanka in February 2026

The Holy Relics, currently preserved at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Vadodara, will travel to Colombo with their return scheduled for 11 February 2026.

In a continuation of the vision articulated by the Prime Minister of India during his visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, India is set to undertake a profound act of spiritual outreach and cultural diplomacy through the public exposition of the sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka. The exposition represents a deeply symbolic reaffirmation of India’s civilizational responsibility as the birthplace of Buddhism and highlights the enduring spiritual, cultural and people-to-people bonds between the two neighbouring nations.

The Holy Relics, currently enshrined at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Vadodara, will be transported to Colombo for public veneration from 4 to 10 February 2026, with their return to India scheduled for 11 February 2026.

High-Level Delegation and State Honours

Reflecting the sanctity and reverence accorded to the Relics, they will be accompanied by a high-level Indian delegation led by Shri Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat, and Shri Harsh Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, along with senior Buddhist monks and officials. In accordance with established protocol for sacred national treasures, the Relics will travel with full state honours aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft.

The delegation will participate in a series of ceremonial, religious and official engagements in Colombo, including the formal inauguration of the exposition and parallel exhibitions highlighting India’s rich Buddhist heritage and its contemporary cultural engagements with the Buddhist world.

Enshrinement at Gangaramaya Temple

During the exposition, the Devnimori Relics will be enshrined at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, one of Sri Lanka’s most revered and historically significant Buddhist institutions. Founded in the late nineteenth century by Venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera, the temple has long served as a centre of worship, learning and cultural exchange.

In a country where Buddhism profoundly shapes cultural identity, history and daily life, the exposition is expected to draw widespread devotion and reinforce the shared Buddhist heritage that underpins India–Sri Lanka relations.

Historical and Archaeological Significance of the Devnimori Relics

The Devnimori Relics originate from the Devnimori archaeological site near Shamlaji in Gujarat’s Aravalli district—an area of immense historical and spiritual importance. Excavated in 1957 under the leadership of renowned archaeologist Professor S. N. Chowdhry, the site revealed major Buddhist structures and relics that attest to the flourishing of Buddhism in western India during the early centuries of the Common Era.

Central to the discovery was a green schist relic casket found within the Devnimori Stupa at a height of 24 feet from the base. Inscribed in Brahmi script and Sanskrit, the casket bears the words “dashabala sharira nilay”—“the abode of the Buddha’s bodily relic.” Inside, it contained a copper box holding organic material with holy ashes, silk cloth and beads.

The casket consists of three components: the body, the lid and a rounded knob, each crafted with precision and symbolic intent. The copper box further housed a gold-coated silver-copper bottle, amphora-like in form, along with black clay used as protective covering.

Today, the Holy Relics are preserved within a sealed, air-tight glass desiccator, resting on a cotton base to prevent deterioration and ensure their long-term conservation.

Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power Outreach

Beyond their immense spiritual value, the exposition of the Devnimori Relics in Sri Lanka carries strong diplomatic significance. By sharing one of its most sacred Buddhist treasures, India reinforces the civilizational foundations of its bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka, rooted in shared faith, history and values.

The initiative advances India’s people-centric foreign policy, using cultural diplomacy and soft power to foster deeper mutual trust, emotional resonance and people-to-people connections. It also reaffirms India’s role as a responsible custodian of global Buddhist heritage and strengthens regional harmony in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood.

Continuity of India’s Global Buddhist Outreach

The forthcoming exposition builds on India’s longstanding tradition of sharing sacred Buddhist relics with the world. In recent years, relics of Lord Buddha have been exhibited in Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, the Russian Federation and Bhutan, drawing millions of devotees and strengthening cultural bonds.

The Sri Lanka exposition also follows the recent repatriation of the sacred Piprahwa Jewel Relics to India, described by the Prime Minister as the homecoming of a priceless national treasure.

A Symbol of Shared Heritage and Peace

Through the exposition of the Devnimori Relics, India once again conveys the universal message of Buddha Dhamma—non-violence, compassion and coexistence. The sacred journey stands as a powerful symbol of peace, a celebration of shared spiritual inheritance, and a reaffirmation of the special and enduring friendship between India and Sri Lanka, shaped by centuries-old civilizational ties and mutual respect.