Devotees on Sunday thronged the Gandantegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to pay homage to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha’s chief disciples, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, currently on display as part of a 10-day public exposition.
The relics were transferred from India to Mongolia on May 30, underscoring the deep cultural and spiritual ties between the two nations. They were airlifted from New Delhi to Ulaanbaatar aboard an Indian Air Force (IAF) IL-76 aircraft, also known as Gajraj.
“Devotees in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, are lining up from early morning to pay homage to the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha’s Chief Disciples, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, at Gandantegchenling Monastery. On display till June 9, 2026,” the Ministry of Culture said in a post on X, sharing videos of devotees.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has been nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead the delegation for the return of the relics to India. He will attend the concluding ceremony in Ulaanbaatar on June 10, after which the relics will be flown back to New Delhi on a special aircraft.
The exhibition follows the successful Sacred Exposition of Holy Buddha Relics held in Ladakh from May 1 to 14.
The exhibition, which opened at the Ganden Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, will conclude on June 10. The Gandantegchenling Monastery in Mongolia is considered the most important centre of Tibetan Buddhism.
Given their immense religious and historical value, the relics were granted protocol status of a ‘Head of State’ during their international travel.
The relics are rarely moved outside of India. Their exposition in Mongolia is a special initiative following a prior display in the country in 2022 and in Thailand in 2024.
