Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics related to Lord Buddha at Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi tomorrow. In a social media post, Mr Modi said tomorrow is a very special day for those passionate about history, culture and the ideals of Lord Buddha.

Mr Modi said this exposition brings together the Piprahwa relics repatriated after more than a century and authentic relics and archaeological materials from Piprahwa that are preserved in the collections of the National Museum, New Delhi and the Indian Museum, Kolkata.

He said that this exposition is in line with the government’s commitment to further popularising the noble thoughts of Lord Buddha. He added that it is also an effort to further deepen the bond between the nation’s youth and its rich culture. He appreciated everyone who worked towards the repatriation of these relics.

Discovered in 1898, the Piprahwa relics hold a central place in the archaeological study of early Buddhism. These are among the earliest and most historically significant relic deposits directly connected to Lord Buddha. Archaeological evidence associates the Piprahwa site with ancient Kapilavastu, widely identified as the place where Lord Buddha spent his early life prior to renunciation.