50,000 Devotees Pay Homage to Sacred Buddha Relics in Arunachal
Over 50,000 devotees have gathered across Arunachal Pradesh to pay homage to the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha during a state-wide exposition.
A massive wave of spiritual fervor is sweeping through Arunachal Pradesh as nearly 50,000 devotees have already gathered to pay their respects to the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha. This grand exposition has turned into a major spiritual milestone for the region, drawing massive crowds seeking blessings and a deeper connection to their faith.
The journey of the holy relics began at the iconic Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery, popularly known as the Tawang Monastery, on October 31, 2026. During its first seven-day leg, which concluded on November 7, more than 31,000 pilgrims from Tawang and its neighboring areas flocked to the monastery to offer prayers and witness the sacred relics.
The Spiritual Journey Across Arunachal
Following the successful event in Tawang, the relics arrived at the Thubchog Gatsel Ling (TGL) Monastery, also known as Lower Gompa, in Bomdila on November 8. The local community and devotees from surrounding areas have responded with immense enthusiasm, with large numbers of visitors arriving daily for darshan. The public exposition at the TGL Monastery is set to continue until November 13, 2026, offering one last opportunity for local devotees to seek blessings.
The spiritual tour will then move to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai, where the relics will be available for public veneration from November 14 to November 20, 2026. This sequence of events allows Buddhist followers across different parts of the state to participate in this significant religious experience.
This massive undertaking is being organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the National Museum, New Delhi, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). Beyond the religious significance, the initiative aims to preserve and promote India's profound Buddhist heritage while strengthening the cultural and spiritual ties shared by Buddhist communities worldwide.