Return of Sacred Buddha Relics to Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh
Sacred Relics Unveiled at Tawang Monastery
The sacred Buddha relics were received by Chief Minister Pema Khandu and the Abbot of Tawang Monastery, Phara Damey Tulku, in the presence of monks and devotees.
Itanagar, Nov 1: The revered relics of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha were publicly displayed at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, commonly known as Tawang Monastery, on Friday, marking their return to Arunachal Pradesh after a 13-year absence.
Attendees at the inaugural event included Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao, various legislators, senior officials from the State Government, and representatives from the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum, and the International Buddhist Confederation.
These sacred relics, transported from the National Museum in New Delhi, were received by Chief Minister Pema Khandu alongside the Abbot of Tawang Monastery, Phara Damey Tulku, in the presence of monks and devotees.
During the event, Khandu announced the establishment of the Arunachal Buddhist Confederation, aimed at uniting the State’s Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist communities under a single institutional framework.
The relics will be on display for a 20-day period, from October 31 to November 21, across West Kameng and Namsai districts, allowing devotees and visitors to pay their respects to Lord Buddha and contemplate his teachings.
In his address, Khandu expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating the exhibition and thanked the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum, and other supporting agencies.
The newly proposed Arunachal Buddhist Confederation aims to unify Buddhist institutions and communities from both Mahayana and Theravada traditions.
Khandu appointed Agadhamma, the chief monk of the Namsai Pariyatti Sasana Buddhist Vihara, as the first president of the confederation, while Thupten Kalden, Director of the Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs, will serve as secretary general.
Arunachal Pradesh hosts a variety of Buddhist communities, with Mahayana traditions prevalent in Tawang, West Kameng, Mechuka, Tuting, Taksing, and Anjaw, while Theravada Buddhism is mainly practiced in Namsai and Changlang districts.
The Chief Minister noted that the confederation would serve as a platform for collaboration among Buddhist institutions, the preservation of cultural and religious heritage, and the promotion of shared values throughout the State.
Khandu also highlighted the Union Budget's announcement regarding the development of Buddhist sites in the Northeast, stating that the Ministry of Tourism is formulating a policy framework in collaboration with the State Government to enhance the region’s Buddhist heritage and boost its tourism potential.