New Delhi : Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Tuesday celebrated the historic return of the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha to India after 127 years, calling it a “proud and joyous moment” for the country’s cultural and spiritual legacy.
In a heartfelt message posted on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said:
“A joyous day for our cultural heritage! It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India’s close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture. #VikasBhiVirasatBhi”
PM Modi emphasized that the relics are not just artifacts, but sacred symbols of India’s deep-rooted spiritual values and its historical association with Bhagwan Buddha’s teachings. The return, he added, reinforces India’s unwavering resolve to preserve its cultural treasures.
The Piprahwa relics, originally discovered in 1898 at the Piprahwa stupa site near the Indo-Nepal border, were taken out of India during the British colonial period. Earlier this year, the relics surfaced at an international auction, prompting swift diplomatic and cultural efforts to bring them back to Indian soil.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to all individuals and institutions involved in the successful repatriation of the relics.
“When they appeared in an international auction earlier this year, we worked to ensure they returned home. I appreciate all those who have been involved in this effort,” he stated.
The return of the relics is seen as a landmark moment under the broader initiative of ‘Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi’—a campaign that seeks to integrate development with cultural conservation.
