The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, will open an international exhibition of great importance named “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” at the Cultural Complex of Rai Pithora in the capital of India, New Delhi. The exhibition will open at 11 am on January 3, 2026.
The exposition is a historic event, as it brings together, after more than a century, the Piprahwa relics, which have been repatriated to India, with actual archaeological pieces being maintained by the National Museum, New Delhi, and the Indian Museum, Kolkata. The relics were unearthed in the year 1898, and they form one of the most historic finds in the history of Buddhism. The finds have a direct connection with the ancient place called Kapilavastu, where Bhagwan Buddha lived the initial years of his life before setting out on the path of spirituality.
Organized thematically, the exhibition features as its centerpiece the Sanchi Stupa-inspired reconstructed, interpretive model, which houses the repatriated gems and national collections. The journey continues through specialized sections pointing to the successful efforts of the government in bringing the treasures home through institutional cooperation and public-private partnerships.
For a contemporary experience, the exposition incorporates immersive technology. Digital presentations tell the story of the Piprahwa excavation and Buddha’s life. Through this component, there is a bridging of the age-old past with the latest interpretations.
This program is just one example of India’s civilizational continuity with Buddhism. It indicates that the prime minister cares about the spiritual traditions of the country, and such religious artifacts bring back the memory of the history of the Buddha as well as the aesthetic of the language of the Buddha’s teachings.
