On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the return of Lord Buddha’s revered Piprahwa relics to India after a 127-year absence, calling it a moment of great pride and happiness for the country.

The Prime Minister emphasized India’s strong spiritual ties to Buddha’s teachings and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to conserving its civilizational legacy in a statement that reflected the government’s cultural vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” (development along with heritage).

“A happy day honoring our cultural legacy! The return of the revered Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha after 127 long years would be a source of pride for all Indians, PM Modi wrote in a post on X.

These revered artifacts demonstrate India’s strong ties to the Bhagwan Buddha and his lofty teachings. It also demonstrates our dedication to conserving and safeguarding many facets of our magnificent culture,” PM Modi continued.

The relics were first found in 1898 at Piprahwa in Uttar Pradesh, which is said to be a portion of the ancient Kapilavastu region, which is connected to the early life of Lord Buddha.

During the colonial era, the artifacts—which included bone fragments, crystal caskets, gold decorations, and ritual offerings—were transported overseas and were recently rediscovered at an international auction.

We tried to make sure they went home after they participated in an international auction earlier this year. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to everyone who had contributed to this endeavor.

The Center began a coordinated diplomatic and legal effort to halt the sale and ensure the repatriation of the relics after the auction listing. The repatriation was successfully arranged by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, and international legal specialists.

It is anticipated that the relics would be housed in a national museum or a well-known Buddhist heritage site so that people can pay their respects and discover more about their spiritual and historical value.