📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vikramjit Kakati
Religion
Tawang Welcomes Sacred Buddha Relics After 13-Year Return, Devotees Gather in Jubilation
✍️ Northeast Today
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 05:32 PM
👁 17
The ancient Buddha relics that had been absent for 13 years have been returned to Tawang, sparking a wave of devotion among pilgrims and locals.
The 13‑year‑old return of sacred Buddha relics to Tawang has drawn thousands of devotees to the remote Himalayan town. The relics, believed to be fragments of the Buddha’s remains, had been housed in a foreign monastery before being repatriated to India.
The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the Tawang Monastery, where monks and officials performed traditional rites. The event was attended by local residents, monks from neighboring monasteries, and officials from the Ministry of Culture.
Pilgrims lined up outside the monastery, chanting prayers and offering flowers. Social media posts show crowds of people, some wearing saffron robes, gathering to witness the relics’ arrival.
The return is seen as a significant moment for the Buddhist community in Arunachal Pradesh, strengthening cultural ties and boosting religious tourism in the region.
The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the Tawang Monastery, where monks and officials performed traditional rites. The event was attended by local residents, monks from neighboring monasteries, and officials from the Ministry of Culture.
Pilgrims lined up outside the monastery, chanting prayers and offering flowers. Social media posts show crowds of people, some wearing saffron robes, gathering to witness the relics’ arrival.
The return is seen as a significant moment for the Buddhist community in Arunachal Pradesh, strengthening cultural ties and boosting religious tourism in the region.