India Sends Sacred Devnimori Buddha Relics to Sri Lanka in Historic Cultural Diplomacy Move

India Embarks on Sacred Mission, Sends Buddha Relics to Sri Lanka for Public Exposition

In a profound gesture of spiritual diplomacy and cultural kinship, India will send the sacred  Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha  to Sri Lanka for a public exposition. The relics, currently housed at  The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda  in Vadodara, Gujarat, will be venerated in  Colombo from February 4 to 10, 2026 , before returning to India on February 11, reinforcing the deep civilizational bonds between the two nations.

A Journey of State Honour and Spiritual Significance
The sacred relics will commence their journey from Vadodara in a high-level ceremony flagged off by  Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel , accompanied by full state honours and a guard of honour. A delegation including  Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat  and  Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi , alongside senior monks, will accompany the relics. In keeping with protocol, they will travel aboard a  special Indian Air Force aircraft  to Colombo, where they will be enshrined for public veneration at the iconic  Gangaramaya Temple , one of Sri Lanka's most revered Buddhist institutions.

The Archaeological and Historical Legacy of the Devnimori Relics
The relics hold immense archaeological importance, originating from the  Devnimori Buddhist archaeological site  near Shamlaji in Gujarat's Aravalli district. Excavated in  1957 by archaeologist S N Chowdhry , the site revealed significant Buddhist remains dating to the early centuries of the Common Era. The relic casket itself, made of green schist, bears a  Brahmi script inscription in Sanskrit  that reads  “dashabala sharira nilaya”  (the abode of the Buddha's bodily relic). The casket meticulously houses a copper box containing holy ashes, silk cloth, beads, and a gold-coated silver-copper bottle.

Cultural Diplomacy and Strengthening Regional Ties
This exposition is a cornerstone of India's  people-centric foreign policy and soft power strategy , highlighting its role as the birthplace of Buddhism and a custodian of global Buddhist heritage. It follows a series of similar diplomatic exhibitions in countries like  Thailand, Mongolia, and Vietnam . By sharing this sacred legacy, India aims to  deepen people-to-people connections, enhance mutual trust, and promote values of peace and harmonious coexistence  across South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

Exam-Focused Important Facts:

• Relics:  The  Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha  from Gujarat.

• Exposition:  In  Colombo, Sri Lanka , from  February 4-10, 2026 , at  Gangaramaya Temple .

• Archaeological Site:   Devnimori  in Gujarat, a major Buddhist site excavated in 1957.

• Key Feature:  Relic casket inscription is in  Brahmi script and Sanskrit .

• Significance:  Part of India's  cultural diplomacy and soft power  outreach.