Exhibition of Buddha’s Sacred Relics in Sarnath | 01 Nov 2025

Why in News?

The sacred relics of Lord Buddha will be exhibited to the public at Mulagandha Kuti Vihar in Sarnath from 3rd- 5th November, 2025, to mark the 94th anniversary of the Vihar, the historic site where Buddha delivered his first sermon, the Dharmachakra Pravartana.

Key Points

• About the Event: The three-day ceremony is being organised by the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Sarnath Centre, in collaboration with the Venerable Vietnamese Sangha and devotees from Hanoi.
• About the Relics: The relics housed beneath the golden Buddha statue inside the Vihar date back over 2,600 years.
  • One relic was discovered in the ancient Gandhara region and gifted to the Maha Bodhi Society in 1956.
  • Another relic was unearthed from Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh), preserved in an inscribed stone box confirming its authenticity.
  • These relics are displayed only twice a year on Buddha Purnima and Kartik Purnima making this exhibition a spiritually significant occasion.
    • Buddha Purnima (Vesak) commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Parinirvana of the Buddha, symbolising the full cycle of his spiritual journey.
    • Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day of the Kartik lunar month, is traditionally associated with the Buddha’s return to the human realm after higher-realm teaching, marking renewal and compassion.
• Global Participation: Monks, devotees, and pilgrims from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal, Japan, and other countries will attend, reaffirming Sarnath’s role as a symbol of Buddhist unity and heritage.
• Spiritual Significance: The exhibition offers devotees a rare opportunity to witness and pay homage to the sacred relics, deepening their connection to the origins of Buddhism, which began at Sarnath over 2,500 years ago.