Governor of Madhya Pradesh Mangubhai C. Patel and Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Chowna Mein arrived in Colombo today, where they offered their respects at the Holy Devnimori Relics Exposition at Gangaramaya Temple.
The high-profile delegation is set to escort the sacred Devnimori relics back to India following their maiden international exposition in Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Discovered in Devnimori in Gujarat’s Aravali district, the relics of Lord Buddha have drawn thousands of devotees to the temple since their arrival. Buddhists constitute about 70% of the total 22 million population on the island.
The relics arrived in Sri Lanka last week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the exposition during his visit to Sri Lanka last year.
Meanwhile, large crowds of pilgrims continue to flock to Gangaramaya Temple, paying homage before the relics in a display of deep devotion. The exposition underscores strong cultural and spiritual ties between India and Sri Lanka, marking a historic first for these ancient Buddhist artefacts outside India.
