Home Minister Amit Shah Inaugurates Holy Buddha Relics Exposition in Leh

Leh/Jammu, May 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated the sacred exposition of holy relics of Gautama Buddha and marked the 2569th Buddha Purnima celebrations in Leh during his two-day visit to Ladakh.

The event was held at Jivetsal in the Photang-Choglamsar area of Leh, where the revered Piprahwa relics—ancient remains and objects associated with the Buddha—were displayed. These relics were discovered at Piprahwa in present-day Uttar Pradesh near the Nepal border and arrived in Leh earlier this week.

Shah inaugurated the exposition by participating in traditional religious rituals and paying homage to the sacred relics. Ceremonial offerings, including the ‘Mandala’ and ‘Sumba’, were performed as part of the rituals symbolising devotion and spiritual reverence.

Following the rituals, the Home Minister lit a ceremonial lamp at the Buddha statue, formally opening the exposition for public viewing.

Officials said the relics will be available for public veneration at Jivetsal from May 2 to 10, followed by display in Zanskar on May 11 and 12, and later at the Dharma Centre in Leh from May 13 to 14. The relics will be returned to Delhi on May 15.

The relics were transported from Delhi to Leh in a special Indian Air Force aircraft by religious leaders from Matho Monastery.

Leh has been decorated for the occasion, with Jivetsal designated as the main venue for the exposition coinciding with Buddha Purnima celebrations.

During his visit, Shah is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a 10,000-litre-per-day dairy plant in Kargil and launch several dairy development initiatives, including mobile milk testing laboratories and modern milk cooling systems, aimed at promoting self-reliance and boosting milk production in Ladakh.

Local BJP leaders and workers, led by Haji Anayat Ali, welcomed the Home Minister upon his arrival in Leh on Thursday.