The holy relics of Lord Buddha departed from Ladakh on Friday after a 14-day exposition that drew more than 1.18 lakh devotees from across India and abroad, officials said.
The relics were accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at Leh Airport before their departure. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said he joined the people of Ladakh in bidding an emotional farewell to the relics.
“These sacred days transformed Ladakh into a land of prayer, compassion and spiritual awakening,” Saxena said in a post on X.
“From monasteries to remote villages and from mountainous terrains to bustling markets, the entire Ladakh resonated with devotion, peace and reverence,” he added.
The exposition concluded on Thursday at the Dharma Centre in Choglamsar, where devotees from all walks of life offered their final prayers.
Officials said over 1,18,000 devotees paid obeisance to the relics during the fortnight-long event, making it one of the largest spiritual gatherings ever organised in the Union Territory.
The relics were opened for public exposition on May 1, coinciding with the 2569th Buddha Purnima, by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Jivetsal in Leh.
Shah spent two days in Ladakh, underscoring the Centre’s commitment to preserving the region’s Buddhist heritage and spiritual traditions. Saxena said the exposition symbolised cultural unity and harmony, and transformed Ladakh into a global spiritual destination.
The relics remained on public display at Jivetsal for nine days before being taken to Karsha Monastery on May 11 and 12. The arrival of the relics in Leh on April 29 had triggered an emotional response, with thousands of residents in traditional attire lining the route from Leh Airport to Jivetsal to welcome them.
Special prayers, cultural programmes, conferences and spiritual activities were organised during the exposition.
