India–Sri Lanka Spiritual Diplomacy

India announces the public exposition of the Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka as part of cultural outreach. The exposition is organised by the Ministry of Culture to strengthen India–Sri Lanka cultural engagement.

Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha:

Dimension	Key Details
Authority	Ministry of Culture
Purpose	Provides for strengthening India–Sri Lanka cultural ties and promotion of shared Buddhist heritage through spiritual diplomacy
Relics Origin	Originates from an archaeological site in the Aravalli district of Gujarat
Discovery	Site excavated in 1957 revealing evidence of early Buddhist presence in western India
Relic Components	Comprises a green schist relic casket, a copper box with holy ashes, and a gold-coated silver-copper sacred bottle with silk cloth and beads
Relic Casket Details	Green schist casket inscribed in Brahmi script and Sanskrit, identified as the abode of the Buddha’s bodily relic
Venue of Exposition	Exhibited at Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo, in February 2026
Current Custody	Enshrined at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara
Indian Delegation	Led by the Governor of Gujarat and the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat
Travel Protocol	Relics travel with full state honours aboard a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force
International Exhibitions	Exhibited in recent years in Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia, and Bhutan