What are Piprahwa relics? PM Modi to inaugurate exposition in Delhi on January 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will inaugurate an exposition of the sacred Piprahwa Relics

• PM Modi to inaugurate exposition of sacred Piprahwa Relics in Delhi
• Piprahwa Relics believed to be Buddha's remains, found in Uttar Pradesh in 1898
• Expo showcases India's Buddhist heritage and global spiritual impact.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will inaugurate an exposition of the sacred Piprahwa Relics, which will be hosted at a heritage site in Delhi, according to PTI.

The Ministry of Culture, in a statement, said it is organising "a landmark cultural exposition titled 'Lotus Light: Relics of the Awakened One', showcasing the revered sacred Piprahwa Relics along with significant associated antiquities".

Officials told PTI that the exposition underscores India's enduring civilisational connection with the teachings of the Buddha and its commitment to preserving and presenting its rich spiritual heritage.

What are Piprahwa relics?

The Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 by British civil engineer William Claxton Peppé in Piprahwa, Uttar Pradesh. They are believed to be associated with the mortal remains of Lord Buddha. Enshrined by his followers around the 3rd century BCE, these relics have long held immense spiritual value for the global Buddhist community and represent one of the most important archaeological discoveries in India’s history.

The find included bone fragments believed to be of the Buddha, gemstones, gold ornaments, intricately carved reliquary urns made of soapstone and crystal, a sandstone chest and a casket inscribed in Brahmi script. Various reports suggested that the relics were those of the Buddha and linked to the Sakya clan, his family lineage.

Inside the casket were sacred bone relics, crystal and soapstone urns, and thousands of precious stones: over 1,800 pearls, rubies, sapphires, topaz, and thin golden sheets, according to News18.

The exposition will feature the sacred Piprahwa Relics and related antiquities: curated displays highlighting their historical, spiritual, and archaeological context; interpretive narratives emphasising India’s role as the cradle of Buddhism, the ministry said.

The event marks an important moment in India’s cultural and diplomatic history, as the relics on display include repatriated sacred relics of immense historical, archaeological, and spiritual significance, revered by Buddhist communities across the world, it said.