Nearly 50,000 devotees have visited the exposition of the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha across Arunachal Pradesh, according to the Union Ministry of Culture, as the rare public veneration enters its second week in the state.
The exposition is organised by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the National Museum in New Delhi, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the International Buddhist Confederation.
From Tawang to Bomdila
The exposition opened at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery, better known as Tawang Monastery, and ran there for a week, drawing more than 31,000 devotees from Tawang and the surrounding areas. The sacred relics then moved to Thubchog Gatsel Ling Monastery, also known as Lower Gompa, in Bomdila, where the public exposition continues until November 13.
Devotees from different parts of the state have been travelling to Bomdila to offer prayers and seek blessings, reflecting the region’s deep Buddhist traditions and spiritual heritage.
Next stop: the Golden Pagoda in Namsai
After the Bomdila leg, the sacred relics will travel to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai, where they will be open for public veneration from November 14 to 20. A dedicated website carries information and updates to help devotees plan their visits.
A showcase of Buddhist heritage
For Arunachal Pradesh, the exposition is both a spiritual occasion and a showcase of the state’s Buddhist heritage. Tawang Monastery is among the largest Buddhist monasteries in the Tibetan Buddhist world, and the three-centre journey takes the relics through the Mahayana heartland of the western districts and the Theravada traditions of the eastern districts. The steady flow of devotees through both legs suggests the exposition has struck a chord well beyond the monastery towns themselves.
The exposition opened at Tawang Monastery before travelling to Bomdila and Namsai, covering three important centres of Buddhist faith and heritage in the state. The Union Budget has also announced a dedicated Buddhist circuit scheme for six northeastern states, and the state government has been promoting spiritual travel alongside adventure tourism in Arunachal Pradesh.
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