At the request of the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery, the National Museum of India under the Ministry of Culture in association with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, India; Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka and International Buddhist Confederation brought the Holy Relics of the Lord Buddha’s two Chief Disciples Arhant Sariputra and Arhant Maudgalyayana for exposition at the esteemed Gandan Tegchenling Monastery for 10-days from 31 May to 09 June 2026. The Holy Relics were opened for the public on the auspicious occasion of Mongolian Buddha Purnima on 31 May 2026. The Holy Relics were handed over ceremoniously by the Hon’ble Governor of Assam, HE Mr Lakshman Prasad Acharya to HE Mr Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia and His Eminence Ven. Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj of the Gandantegchenling Monastery on 30 May 2026.
2. The exposition was announced by HE Mr Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India during the State Visit of President of Mongolia, HE Mr Khurelsukh Ukhnaa to India in October 2025. India and Mongolia are Strategic Partners and Spiritual Siblings with deep civilization linkages due to Buddhism. The exposition offered a good opportunity for the followers of Buddhism in Mongolia to pay their tributes to the Relics of Lord Buddha’s two Chief Disciples. During the 10-days, around 100,000 devotees from all parts of Mongolia paid their tributes to the Holy Relics. It may be noted that Mongolia has population of 3.4 million.
3. Till date, these Relics have been sent only to Thailand and Mongolia. It may be recalled that the exposition of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha in Mongolia in June 2022 was a highly successful and memorable event.
4. On the sidelines of the Exposition, the National Museum of India and International Buddhist Confederation organised the following special exhibitions on Buddhism, which was highly appreciated by the people, monks and scholars:
i) Sariputta and Moggallana – A Journey of Wisdom, Devotion and Relics – by International Buddhist Confederation
ii) From India to Mongolia: The Transmission of Buddha Dhamma Across Inner Asia – by International Buddhist Confederation
iii) Vessels of Light: Iconography, Relics and Path of Dhamma (Shakyamuni Buddha’s Journey through Museum Collections of India – by National Museum of India
5. The Holy Relics enjoy the status of the Head of State in terms of Protocol and security. The Holy Relics were brought by a delegation led by Hon’ble Governor of Assam, HE Mr Lakshman Prasad Acharya on 30 May 2026 in an Indian Air Force Special Flight. The Holy Relics were taken back to India by an Indian Air Force Special Flight by a delegation led by Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh, HE Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena on 10 June 2026. Ceremonial welcome and farewell was given to the Holy Relics at the Gandantegchenling Monastery.
6. The Government of Mongolia extended the necessary support for the exposition of the Holy Relics. The Gandan Tegchenling Monastery looked after the religious aspects of the exposition commensurate with the special high status of the Relics. Devotees from all over Mongolia visited the Monastery to pay their tributes. During the closing ceremony held at the Gandantegchenling Monastery on 10 June 2026, all speakers viz His Eminence Ven. Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj of the Gandantegchenling Monastery, HE Mr Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia, HE Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh, Ven Banagala Upatissa Thero, President Mahabodi Society of Sri Lanka and Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, Secretary General, International Buddhist Confederation thanked the Government of India and Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi for bringing the Holy Relics to Mongolia. The Holy Relics were ceremoniously handed over by HE Mr Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia and His Eminence Ven. Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj of the Gandantegchenling Monastery to HE Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh.
7. At the Airport during the departure on 10 June 2026, HE Mr Atul Malhari Gotsurve, Ambassador of India gifted a Mongolian plant sapling to the Hon’ble Lt Governor which would be planted in Ladakh as a symbol of friendship between India and Mongolia.
8. The delegation and the Gandantegchenling Monastery thanked the Embassy of India for their active support in the successful organisation of the exposition of the Holy Relics. The exposition of the Holy Relics has further strengthened the existing spiritual bond between India and Mongolia.
Source: India Embassy
At the request of the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery, the National Museum of India under the Ministry of Culture in association with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, India; Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka and International Buddhist Confederation brought the Holy Relics of the Lord Buddha’s two Chief Disciples Arhant Sariputra and Arhant Maudgalyayana for exposition at the esteemed Gandan Tegchenling Monastery for 10-days from 31 May to 09 June 2026. The Holy Relics were opened for the public on the auspicious occasion of Mongolian Buddha Purnima on 31 May 2026. The Holy Relics were handed over ceremoniously by the Hon’ble Governor of Assam, HE Mr Lakshman Prasad Acharya to HE Mr Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia and His Eminence Ven. Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj of the Gandantegchenling Monastery on 30 May 2026.
2. The exposition was announced by HE Mr Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India during the State Visit of President of Mongolia, HE Mr Khurelsukh Ukhnaa to India in October 2025. India and Mongolia are Strategic Partners and Spiritual Siblings with deep civilization linkages due to Buddhism. The exposition offered a good opportunity for the followers of Buddhism in Mongolia to pay their tributes to the Relics of Lord Buddha’s two Chief Disciples. During the 10-days, around 100,000 devotees from all parts of Mongolia paid their tributes to the Holy Relics. It may be noted that Mongolia has population of 3.4 million.
3. Till date, these Relics have been sent only to Thailand and Mongolia. It may be recalled that the exposition of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha in Mongolia in June 2022 was a highly successful and memorable event.
4. On the sidelines of the Exposition, the National Museum of India and International Buddhist Confederation organised the following special exhibitions on Buddhism, which was highly appreciated by the people, monks and scholars:
i) Sariputta and Moggallana – A Journey of Wisdom, Devotion and Relics – by International Buddhist Confederation
ii) From India to Mongolia: The Transmission of Buddha Dhamma Across Inner Asia – by International Buddhist Confederation
iii) Vessels of Light: Iconography, Relics and Path of Dhamma (Shakyamuni Buddha’s Journey through Museum Collections of India – by National Museum of India
5. The Holy Relics enjoy the status of the Head of State in terms of Protocol and security. The Holy Relics were brought by a delegation led by Hon’ble Governor of Assam, HE Mr Lakshman Prasad Acharya on 30 May 2026 in an Indian Air Force Special Flight. The Holy Relics were taken back to India by an Indian Air Force Special Flight by a delegation led by Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh, HE Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena on 10 June 2026. Ceremonial welcome and farewell was given to the Holy Relics at the Gandantegchenling Monastery.
6. The Government of Mongolia extended the necessary support for the exposition of the Holy Relics. The Gandan Tegchenling Monastery looked after the religious aspects of the exposition commensurate with the special high status of the Relics. Devotees from all over Mongolia visited the Monastery to pay their tributes. During the closing ceremony held at the Gandantegchenling Monastery on 10 June 2026, all speakers viz His Eminence Ven. Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj of the Gandantegchenling Monastery, HE Mr Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia, HE Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh, Ven Banagala Upatissa Thero, President Mahabodi Society of Sri Lanka and Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, Secretary General, International Buddhist Confederation thanked the Government of India and Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi for bringing the Holy Relics to Mongolia. The Holy Relics were ceremoniously handed over by HE Mr Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia and His Eminence Ven. Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj of the Gandantegchenling Monastery to HE Mr Vinai Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh.
7. At the Airport during the departure on 10 June 2026, HE Mr Atul Malhari Gotsurve, Ambassador of India gifted a Mongolian plant sapling to the Hon’ble Lt Governor which would be planted in Ladakh as a symbol of friendship between India and Mongolia.
8. The delegation and the Gandantegchenling Monastery thanked the Embassy of India for their active support in the successful organisation of the exposition of the Holy Relics. The exposition of the Holy Relics has further strengthened the existing spiritual bond between India and Mongolia.
Source: India Embassy