The exposition of the Holy Relics of the chief disciples of the Buddha—Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana—was organised in Mongolia from 1 to 10 June 2026 by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India; The International Buddhist Confederation, New Delhi; and the National Museum, New Delhi.

On 28 May 2026, the Sacred Relics, enshrined at the Chetiyagiri Vihara, Sanchi, left for Mongolia aboard a Special Indian Air Force aircraft. Accompanying the Relics were Venerable Banagala Upatissa Thero, Custodian of the Sacred Relics and Chief Incumbent, Sanchi Chetiyagiri Vihara; H.E. the 13th Kundeling Taktsak Rinpoche; Venerable the 20th Bakula Rinpoche, Stanzin Ngawang Jigmet Wangchuk; Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, Secretary General, IBC; and HE Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsan.

Upon arrival at the Gandantegchenling Monastery, the Holy Relics were enshrined on 31 May 2026, with ceremonial chanting by monks from India, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Korea. In his address at the inaugural ceremony, Hon’ble Governor Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya underscored the deep-rooted spiritual and civilisational bonds between India and Mongolia. He also paid homage to the late 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche for his extraordinary contribution to the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia and for his distinguished service as Ambassador of India to Mongolia and a revered representative of the Buddha Dhamma.

H.E. Mr. L. Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia, expressed deep appreciation to the Government of India for facilitating the exposition and announced that Mongolia would recognise academic degrees earned by Mongolian Buddhist monks studying in India. A significant highlight of the visit was the strengthening of educational and cultural cooperation between India and Mongolia through institutional partnerships facilitated by Nalanda University. Nalanda University signed an MoU with Gandantegchenling Monastery to promote Buddhist heritage, preservation of rare manuscripts, joint research, academic cooperation and scholarly exchanges.

Shri Atul Malhari Gotsurve, Ambassador of India to Mongolia, highlighted various other initiatives undertaken to further strengthen Buddhist civilisational and cultural cooperation between the two countries. H.E. Mr. Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, President of Mongolia, sent a special message on the occasion, and H.E. Mr. N. Enkhbayar, former President of Mongolia, attended the ceremony as Guest of Honour.

Other events included cultural performances and the inauguration of three exhibitions—two by IBC and one by National Museum, New Delhi:

‘India to Mongolia: The Transmission of Buddha Dhamma to Inner Asia’ illustrated the historical transmission of Buddhism from India to Mongolia and across Inner Asia through trade routes, pilgrimage networks, monastic exchanges and cultural interactions.

‘Sariputta and Mahamoggallana: A Journey of Wisdom, Devotion and Relics’. This exhibition paid tribute to Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana, tracing their lives, teachings contributions to the early Sangha. and the history of the preservation and veneration of their Sacred Relics.

‘Vessels of Light: Iconography, Relics and the Path of Dhamma – Shakyamuni Buddha’s Journey through the Museum Collections of India’. This exhibition showcased the rich artistic, cultural and spiritual heritage of Buddhism through selected artefacts and museum collections associated with the life and teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. The exhibitions were inaugurated by Ven. D. Javzandorj, Khamba Nomun Khan, Khambo Lama of Gandanthegchenling Monastery, Mongolia; Hon'ble Governor of Assam Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya; Former President of Mongolia, Nambaryn Enkhbayar and the Mongolian Minister of Education, Enkh-Aamgalan Luvsantseren.

The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena accompanied the Holy Relics back to India. Arriving on 8 June 2026, he venerated the Holy Relics at the Gandantegchenling Monastery; paid his respects to the statue of the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche; and walked through the exhibitions organised by the IBC.

The departure of the Holy Relics, accompanied by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, was marked by deeply emotional scenes as devotees, monks and members of the public gathered to bid farewell. Their reverence and devotion reflected the profound spiritual impact of the exposition and the enduring bond between the people of Mongolia and the sacred Buddhist heritage originating from India. The ten-day long exposition witnessed 1,00,000 devotees venerating the Holy Relics.

The Holy Relics returned to New Delhi on 10 June 2026.The following day they were transported to Bhopal where they were received with ceremonial dignity by Shri Inder Singh Parmar, Minister of Higher Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh, and Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Tourism, Culture, Home and Religious Trusts & Endowments, Government of Madhya Pradesh, before proceeding to Sanchi.