India releases details of sacred Buddha Relics exposition in Colombo

India will hold a public exposition of the sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha at Gangaramaya Temple from February 4 to 11, 2026, marking a major religious and cultural event for Sri Lankan Buddhists.

According to India’s Ministry of Culture, the holy relics will arrive in Colombo with full state honours as part of India’s ongoing cultural and spiritual outreach under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative. The exposition follows a vision articulated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties through shared Buddhist heritage.

The Indian delegation will be led by Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat, and Harsh Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, accompanied by senior monks and government officials. In keeping with the sanctity accorded to the relics, they will be transported aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft and formally enshrined for public veneration in Colombo.

The relics, currently preserved at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Vadodara, originate from the Devnimori archaeological site near Shamlaji in Gujarat’s Aravalli district. Excavated in 1957, the site revealed a Buddhist stupa dating back to the early centuries of the Common Era, underscoring the historical spread of Buddhism in western India.

Archaeological findings show that the relic casket was discovered 24 feet above the base of the Devnimori stupa. Made of green schist, the casket bears an inscription in Brahmi script and Sanskrit reading “dashabala sharira nilay”, meaning the abode of the Buddha’s bodily relics. Inside, a copper box contained holy ashes, silk cloth, beads and a gold-coated silver-copper bottle.

The relic ensemble is now preserved within an air-tight glass desiccator to prevent deterioration, with the contents resting on a cotton base for long-term conservation.

Sri Lankan devotees are expected to gather in large numbers at Gangaramaya Temple, one of the country’s most prominent Buddhist institutions, founded in the late 19th century by Venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera. Organisers say the location offers a fitting and dignified setting for the exposition, given its religious and cultural significance.

Beyond its religious importance, Indian officials say the exposition serves as a key element of India’s cultural diplomacy, reinforcing civilizational links between India and Sri Lanka rooted in Buddhism, shared history and spiritual exchange.

The Sri Lanka exposition continues India’s recent tradition of sharing sacred Buddhist relics with other countries, including Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia and Bhutan, drawing millions of devotees worldwide. It also follows the recent repatriation of the Piprahwa Jewel Relics to India.

The Devnimori Relics will remain open for public veneration in Colombo until February 10, before being returned to India on February 11. (Newswire)

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