ULAANBAATAR: 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 cisciples 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 Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya to Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia and Venerable Khamba Nomun Khan Geshe Lharampa D Javzandorj of the Gandantegchenling Monastery on 30 May 2026.
The exposition was announced by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India during the State Visit of President of Mongolia, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa to India in October 2025. India and Mongolia are strategic partners and spiritual siblings with deep civilisation linkages due to Buddhism.
The exposition offered a good opportunity for the followers of Buddhism in Mongolia to pay their tributes to the Relics. During the 10-days, around 100,000 devotees from all parts of Mongolia paid their tributes to the Relics.
To date, these Relics have been sent only to Thailand and Mongolia. The exposition of the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha in Mongolia in June 2022 was a highly successful and memorable event.
On the sidelines of the Exposition, the National Museum of India and International Buddhist Confederation organised the following special exhibitions on Buddhism:
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 Indi
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 the Governor of Assam 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 the Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena on 10 June 2026.
The exposition of the Holy Relics has further strengthened the existing spiritual bond between India and Mongolia. - Go Go Mongolia/ANN
