Thailand, home to the world's second-largest Buddhist population, is eagerly awaiting to pay homage to the revered relics of Lord Buddha from the National Museum here, along with those of his esteemed disciples Sariputra and Moggallana from Bihar's Sanchi which are being tenderly transported via a specially arranged Indian Air Force aircraft to the spiritual neighbour.
During a twenty-six days grand exposition from February 23 to March 18, four of the twenty relics destined for Thailand will be showcased across four cities, including Sanam Luang, inviting devotees to offer their reverence.
Thailand boasts the world's second-largest Buddhist population, after China with approximately 64 million followers. Thailand has the second-largest Buddhist population in the world.
Union Culture Ministry Secretary Govid Mohan shared during a press conference, "The relics will arrive in Thailand on February 22 and will be displayed for eleven days at Sanam Luang Pavilion, Bangkok, from February 23, 2024, to March 3. Subsequently, they will be showcased at Ho Kum Luang, Royal Rujapruek, Chiang Mai, and Wat Maha Wanaram, Ubon Ratchathani, each for the next five days, respectively, followed by Wat Maha That, Ao Luek, Krabi, for an additional five days until March 18."
On March 19, the relics will be respectfully returned to India.
The holy Buddha relics, currently housed in the National Museum, are renowned as the 'Kapilvastu Relics,' originating from a site in Bihar first discovered in 1898 in Piprahwa, Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, once part of the ancient city of Kapilavastu. While twenty sacred bone fragments are housed in the National Museum, the remaining two are on display at the Indian Museum, Kolkata.
These relics will be accorded the esteemed status of a State Guest and transported in the same climate-controlled case as they are presently kept at the National Museum.
This journey to Thailand follows a similar exposition in Mongolia on the occasion of Mongolia's Buddha Purnima on June 14, 2022.
Notably, the last international display of these relics occurred in 2012 in Sri Lanka, with subsequent guidelines restricting their movement due to their delicate nature, categorizing them under the 'AA' category of Antiquities and Art Treasures.
