New Delhi, May 27: India will organise an exposition of the Holy Relics of Buddha’s chief disciples — Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana — at the Ganden Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from June 1 to 10, 2026, further deepening cultural and spiritual ties between the two countries.
The exposition is being organised by the Ministry of Culture, the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the National Museum in New Delhi.
The event follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement during Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa’s State visit to India in October 2025, when both sides reaffirmed their shared Buddhist heritage and longstanding civilisational links.
The relics of Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana, regarded as the two foremost disciples of Gautama Buddha, hold deep significance in Buddhist traditions as symbols of wisdom, spiritual realisation and preservation of Buddha Dhamma.
According to the IBC, the relics represent the realised Sangha and embody the transmission and safeguarding of Buddhist teachings across generations.
The exposition builds on earlier cultural exchanges between the two nations. In 2022, sacred Kapilavastu Relics of the Buddha were taken to Mongolia for an 11-day public exposition, marking their first visit to the country in nearly three decades.
Officials said the upcoming exhibition will provide Mongolia with a tangible spiritual connection to the early Buddhist Sangha while reinforcing historic people-to-people and cultural relations.
India and Mongolia have long described their ties as rooted in spirituality and Buddhism, with both countries continuing to strengthen cooperation through cultural diplomacy and heritage exchanges.
