Amit Shah Thousands of Buddhists celebrated the return of the Buddha’s body to what he called “the living place of the Dhamma” on Friday.
After 1950, with the return of sacred relics to Ladakh, Leh took on a festive look as men, women and children dressed in traditional attire poured into the “Jivetsal” from all over the UT to watch the auspicious ceremony marked by prayers and rituals.
Speaking at the opening of a two-week exhibition of sacred relics at Piprahwa, Shah said their return to Ladakh after 75 years was a “historic reunion”.
The celebrations are expected to bolster India’s credibility as the home of Buddha and Buddhism – something that, while rooted in irrefutable truth, is also questioned by some.
In his speech, Shah recalled the Dalai Lama’s statement that Ladakh is not just a geographical entity but a living laboratory of Buddhist culture and compassion. He also said that the message spread by Indian civilization over thousands of years has become even more important today as it shows that “in the midst of turmoil and conflict” only peace and compassion can bring solutions.
The city celebrates
Buddha fills the world The contrast was stark with the violence that erupted last year over statehood.
Shah said that the 2569th Buddha Purnima is not only an “important religious occasion” but also a “historic reunion” because after many years, the Tathagata Buddha returned to Ladakh through these relics.
The minister said he agreed with Tsering Dorjay Lakrook, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, that when the relics arrived in 1950, few people could pay homage to them because of the difficult terrain, inconvenient transportation and inadequate infrastructure.
“However, today, 75 years later, when these artifacts arrive, I have every confidence that Buddhists in Leh and Kargil and people of other faiths will also be able to pay their respects,” Shah said.
Over the years, the bone relics of Buddha Vibhawa have been exhibited in Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and other countries, and have received global attention and love.
These artifacts are associated with the Peprava Stupa in Kapilavastu (present-day Uttar Pradesh), the home of the Sakyamuni Buddha, and were excavated in 1898 by Willaim Claxton Peppe. These sacred relics are profound symbols of the Buddha’s existence and his universal teachings.
Talking about the theme of the expo, “Peace Beyond Borders”, Ladakh LG VK Saxena said that at a time when the world is mired in turmoil and ideological conflicts, this event is most meaningful and timely.
LBA president Tsering Dorjay said since the artefacts arrived in Leh, the natural signs people have seen have shaped the festive mood of the people, just like seeing a rainbow over the Spituk Temple.