As Ladakh is set to witness a rare and deeply significant spiritual event as the sacred relics of Gautama Buddha, revered as Tathagata relics, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Leh on April 30 for a two-day visit, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena said on Sunday to pay obeisance.
Saxena said the home minister will pay his respect to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on May 1.“It gives me great pleasure in sharing that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be arriving in Leh on April 30 for a two-day visit.“On May 1, he will pay his respects to the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha on the occasion of Buddha Purnima and share his thoughts on the spiritual significance of the sacred exposition being held in Ladakh from May 1-14,” the lieutenant governor said in a post on X.
The home minister’s visit underscores the commitment of the government of India for the development of Ladakh, he added.The sacred relics of Lord Buddha will arrive in Leh on April 29 for a first-of-its kind public exposition in the region. The relics, excavated from Piprahwa in Uttar Pradesh (ancient Kapilvastu), will be displayed at Jive Tsal, Choglamsar, from May 1 to May 14.
It is a very special event as Tathagata relics, will be brought to the region for the first time within the country. The arrival of these holy relics, expected in Leh on the 29th or 30th of this month, has generated immense excitement among the people of Ladakh, particularly within the Buddhist community.
The relics will be transported by a special aircraft under Z-category security to ensure their safety and sanctity. In preparation, the Ladakh Buddhist Association has urged residents to decorate homes, monasteries, and other religious sites with prayer flags, and to whitewash mani walls and stupas to welcome the sacred relics in a traditional manner.
This year, Buddha Purnima on May 1 will be observed on an unprecedented scale at the Jive-Tsal teaching ground (the same venue where Dalai Lama delivers teachings). The event is being jointly organized by the Ladakh Gompa Association, the Ladakh Buddhist Association, and the UT administration.
Beginning May 2, the relic exposition will be conducted in a phased manner, enabling devotees from across Ladakh to receive blessings according to a structured schedule. The programme will start with Nubra and Durbuk block on 2nd May, followed by Nyoma and Kharu block on 3rd May, and Sham up to Saspol including Aryan region on 4th May.
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