The sacred Relics of the Tathagata travelled to Leh and Zanskar for a public exposition between 1 and 14 May 2026. The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of the Union Territory of Ladakh and the National Museum, New Delhi, organised the two-week exposition to celebrate the 2569th Buddha Purnima which fell on 1 May 2026.

The Holy Relics of Tathagata from Piprahwa which are preserved at the National Museum, New Delhi left for Leh on 29 April 2026 on a special Indian Air Force aircraft accompanied by Secretary General IBC, Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden; Director General IBC, Shri Abhijit Halder; Joint Secretary Ministry of Culture, Shri Samar Nanda; senior monks of the Sangha; and officials of the National Museum New Delhi. The holy Relics were received at the Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport in Leh with due protocol and reverence by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, senior monks and officials of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and Ladakh Gonpa Association (LGA), besides other senior officials of the UT Administration.

The Exposition of the Holy Relics of Tathagata with the theme, Peace Beyond Borders, was formally inaugurated by the Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, on the ocassion of Buddha Purnima on 1 May 2026 at the Jivetsal Grounds, Leh. On 2 May 2026, the exposition was opened to public veneration.

The two-week exposition was enriched by exhibitions, a conference and a film screening organised by the IBC. The exhibition on Guru Padmasambhava (in Bhoti and English) was held at the Dharma Centre and the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh. The exhibition at the CIBS was inaugurated by Shri Pema Khandu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. An exhibition by Shri. Vinod Kumar from Dharwad, Karnataka featuring over 2,500 rare stamps from across the globe was also showcased at CIBS, reflecting the universal reach of the Buddha’s message across cultures and generations. Shri Pema Khandu also released a special postal cover by the India Post, Ladakh Office, dedicated to the Holy Relic Exposition inLadakh.

The International Conference on Himalayan Buddhism was held at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Leh on 3 May, inaugurated by Shri Pema Khandu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, and organised by the International Buddhist Confederation.

On 7 May 2026, a film on the life and times of the statesman monk Kushok Bakula Rinpoche was screened at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh.

By the end of 10 May 2026, nearly 95,000 devotees paid their respects to the Holy Relics of Tathagata at the Jivetsal ground

On 11 May 2026, the sacred Holy Relics travelled to Zanskar in an IAF helicopter, accompanied by the Secretary General IBC, President Zanskar Buddhist Association (ZBA), and officials of the National Museum. The Relics were received by the District Magistrate Zanskar, Shri Onkar Gundage, SSP Zanskar, Shri Rigzin Sangdup, senior monks, and officials of the Zanskar Buddhist Association (ZBA) and Zanskar Gonpa Association (ZGA).

The two-day exposition in Zanskar was organised at the Photang Gonpa, Karsha, which witnessed over 12,000 devotees venerating the sacred relics. The exhibition on Guru Padmasambhava (in Bhoti language) was on display, along with a second exhibition on Unearthing the Sacred Piprahwa Relics and Cultural Engagement of Contemporary India.

The Relics returned to Leh on 13 May 2026 for another two days, this time at the Dharma Centre, especially for monks and nuns.

The Holy Relics Exposition concluded with a cultural performance and closing ceremony on 14 May 2026. Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, senior officials of the Government of UT Ladakh, senior monks and a large number of devotees were present.

As per official figures, nearly 1.18 Lakh people venerated the Holy Relics of Tathagata at Leh and Zanskar, during the two week long exposition.

The Sacred Holy Relics of Tathagata returned to New Delhi by a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force on Friday, 15 May 2026, accompanied by the Secretary General IBC, and officials of the IBC and National Museum, New Delhi.