PM Modi to inaugurate exhibition of sacred Piprahwa Relics in New Delhi on January 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a landmark cultural exposition titled “Lotus Light: Relics of the Awakened One” on January 3, 2026, at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi.

Organised by the Ministry of Culture, the exposition will showcase the revered Sacred Piprahwa Relics along with associated antiquities, highlighting India’s deep civilisational ties with the teachings of Lord Buddha and its commitment to the preservation of its rich spiritual heritage.

The relics on display include repatriated sacred artefacts of immense historical, archaeological and spiritual significance, revered by Buddhist communities worldwide. The exhibition marks a significant moment in India’s cultural and diplomatic engagement.

The Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha were discovered by British civil engineer and landowner William Claxton Peppé in 1898 from Piprahwa, the ancient site of Kapilavastu in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. The holy remains have returned to India in 2025 after 127 years.

William Claxton Peppé’s excavation of the Piprahwa relics in 1898 has been referred to as “one of the most astonishing archaeological finds of the modern era”.

The majority of these relics were transferred to the Indian Museum in Kolkata in 1899. However, a portion of the relics retained by the Peppé family was taken away from India and was listed for auction.

The repatriation of the Piprahwa relics was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said it was a “joyous day for our cultural heritage”.

Originally slated for auction in Hong Kong in May 2025, the sacred artefacts were successfully secured by the Ministry of Culture.

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