Buddha’s sacred relics to be exhibited at Sarnath’s Mulagandha Kuti Vihar from November 3 to 5

The sacred relics of Lord Buddha will be exhibited for public veneration at Mulagandha Kuti Vihar in Sarnath from November 3 to 5, 2025, marking one of the most-awaited spiritual gatherings of the year.

The event coincides with the 94th anniversary of the Vihar, which is located at the site where the Buddha delivered his first sermon, the Dharmachakra Pravartana.

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The three-day ceremony is being organised by the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Sarnath Centre, in collaboration with the Venerable Vietnamese Sangha and devotees from Hanoi, whose support has made the exposition possible. During this period, the relics kept beneath the golden Buddha statue inside the shrine will be ceremoniously displayed, drawing monks, devotees, and pilgrims from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal, Japan, and other countries.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said here on Friday that Sarnath holds a unique place on India’s spiritual map. “This is the site where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, and it continues to draw pilgrims and scholars from around the world. In 2016, Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh recorded nearly 28 lakh visitors. By 2024, this number had risen to over 84 lakh — an increase of nearly 200 percent. In the first half of 2025 alone, Sarnath attracted close to 5 lakh visitors, underscoring its emergence as one of the most-visited destinations for spiritual and cultural tourism,” he said.

He added that under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the government has been consistently working to develop facilities, improve connectivity, and promote Uttar Pradesh as the global hub of Buddhist tourism. “We aim to ensure that every visitor to Sarnath not only experiences history but also carries back the peace and wisdom that the Buddha taught here,” he said.

The relics enshrined in Mulagandha Kuti Vihar date back over 2,600 years. One was discovered in the ancient Gandhara region and presented to the Maha Bodhi Society in 1956, while the other was found in Nagarjunakonda in South India, preserved in an inscribed stone box that confirms its authenticity. These relics are displayed only twice a year — on Buddha Purnima and Kartika Purnima — making this occasion deeply significant for the Buddhist community.

When the exposition concludes on November 5, the relics will be respectfully re-enshrined beneath the golden statue of the Buddha. For devotees and visitors, the ceremony offers not only a spiritual experience but also a connection to the origins of a faith that began in Sarnath and continues to inspire millions across the world.