New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate today a monumental exhibition showcasing sacred Buddhist relics at an unlikely yet historically significant location in Delhi. The PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition marks a rare opportunity for the public to witness some of the most significant Buddhist archaeological discoveries ever made in India, displayed against the backdrop of Delhi’s ancient fortifications.
The Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics will be held at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, a temporary museum constructed inside the Qutub Golf Course complex. This PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition represents a convergence of faith, archaeology, and global Buddhist heritage, bringing together artifacts that have shaped religious history across Asia and beyond.
Six-Month Public Display of Sacred Artifacts
The PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition will remain accessible to the public for approximately six months following today’s inauguration. Jointly curated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Museum, the exhibition has been carefully designed to present the relics not merely as objects of devotion but as witnesses to the spread of Buddhism across continents.
An ASI official explained that the exhibition will feature the Piprahwa relics alongside sections tracing the expansion of Buddhist culture and artifacts recovered from different parts of the world. The comprehensive scope of the PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition offers visitors an unprecedented encounter with objects that sit at the intersection of multiple disciplines and traditions.
Historic Venue at Qila Rai Pithora
The venue itself carries profound symbolic weight for the PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition. Qila Rai Pithora, though largely reduced to fragments of ramparts and buried walls, marks one of the earliest phases of Delhi’s urban history. The fortification represents the first of the so-called seven cities of Delhi.
According to ASI records, the Tomar Rajputs initially settled around Surajkund before shifting westward, where Anangpal II raised Lal Kot. Prithviraja III, known better as Rai Pithora, later extended this fortification toward the end of the 12th century, creating Qila Rai Pithora. The site has undergone careful beautification and restoration specifically to frame the PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition.
Archaeological Preservation and Presentation
While much of the original structure has been lost to time, officials emphasized that recent work has focused on stabilization and presentation rather than reconstruction. Minor restoration has been carried out along surviving sections of the wall wherever required, with emphasis on creating a museum-like setting for the exhibition without altering the archaeological character of the site.
The PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition thus presents visitors with two distinct sides of Indian history—one rooted in kings and fortifications, and the other in relics that depict devotion and spiritual legacy.
The Sacred Piprahwa Relics
At the heart of the PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition are the Piprahwa relics, discovered in 1898 by British civil engineer William Claxton Peppé at Piprahwa in present-day Uttar Pradesh. These relics are believed to be associated with the mortal remains of Lord Buddha and were enshrined by his followers around the 3rd century BCE.
The spiritual importance of these artifacts extends far beyond the Indian subcontinent, making them objects of deep reverence for Buddhists across the world. The relics are among the most significant Buddhist finds ever made in India, representing an irreplaceable connection to the historical Buddha.
Government Secures Relics from Auction
Originally slated to be auctioned in Hong Kong in May 2025, the sacred relics were secured by the Union Ministry of Culture, preventing their dispersal into private collections. An ASI official confirmed that these sacred artifacts have now returned to public custody and will form the centerpiece of the PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition.
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This government intervention ensured that objects of such immense cultural and spiritual significance remain accessible to the public rather than becoming private property.
International and Repatriated Artifacts
The PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition also brings together a carefully selected group of repatriated and international artifacts that enrich the narrative of Buddhist heritage. These include an 11th century CE Celestial Dancer (Apsara) sculpture returned from the United States, demonstrating successful cultural repatriation efforts.
Additionally, the exhibition features a 2nd century CE panel depicting the Miracle of Sravasti, acquired from Kabul, showing Buddha radiating flames. A plaque illustrating the 12 deeds of Sakyamuni Buddha, returned from Tibet, further enhances the international character of the PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition.
Ticketed Entry and Final Preparations
An official from the National Museum confirmed that entry to the PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition will be ticketed. Preparations reached their final stages following a site visit by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat late last month, ensuring all arrangements meet the standards required for such significant cultural artifacts.
Cultural and Historical Significance
Set against the ruins of Delhi’s first city, the PM Modi Buddha relics exhibition offers people a unique chance to experience the convergence of political and spiritual history. The exhibition represents not just a display of ancient objects but a living connection to traditions that continue to shape millions of lives across the world.
The six-month duration ensures that visitors from across India and internationally will have ample opportunity to witness these extraordinary relics and understand their place in the broader narrative of human civilization and religious development.
