India Reunites Buddha Relics After 127 Years in Global Exposition Showcasing Piprahwa’s Spiritual and Archaeological Legacy
India will open a landmark international exposition titled "The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One" on January 3, 2026, showcasing the sacred Piprahwa relics of the Buddh, recently repatriated after 127 years. The exhibition, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi, represents the culmination of decades-long archaeological scholarship, diplomatic effort, and global Buddhist engagement. Glimpses from the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics in Delhi. Via: PM NaMo The Piprahwa relics, originally unearthed in 1898 by British colonial officer William Claxton Peppé in what is today Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, are widely regarded by archaeologists and epigraphists as the earliest physical remains of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. Buried deep within a stupa near Kapilavastu, the ancient capital of the Buddha’s Shakya clan, the relics consist of bone fragments, gem...