The ceremonial repatriation of the venerated artefacts was overseen by a special party from India, who arrived in Ulaanbaatar onboard a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Gandantegchenling Monks, Indian Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve, and high-ranking Mongolian officials all extended warm welcomes to the group.
The top Buddhist institutions in Mongolia requested the special 10-day exhibition of the precious relics, which had been brought from India. Visitors waited in queue beginning at the crack of dawn to pray to the relics and ask for their blessings, as they are among the holiest objects in Buddhism.
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya presided over a distinguished group that brought the artefacts to Mongolia in accordance with state-level etiquette and security measures. Respected Buddhist monks from Sri Lanka and India were among the dignitaries in the group.
During his remarks, Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya stressed that the artefacts represent much more than just history. He said that the teachings of Lord Buddha and his closest followers were reflected in the message of spiritual unity, compassion, enlightenment, and peace that they carried on their journey from India to Mongolia.
Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, the National Museum of India, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) all provided financial and in-kind assistance for the exhibition. One of the most important Buddhist gatherings in Mongolia in recent memory was well-organised thanks to their combined efforts.
Arkhangai Province in Mongolia and Ladakh have been working together more closely since signing an MoU in October 2025. The MoU covers cultural exchanges, tourism, education, trade, agriculture, animal husbandry, astronomy, sports, and more.
The two countries’ Buddhist communities have long exchanged ideas and practices. For the first time in nearly 30 years, Mongolia welcomed the hallowed Kapilavastu Relics of Lord Buddha in 2022 for an 11-day exhibition.
The concluding ceremony of the relic exhibition proved once again that India and Mongolia share a deep spiritual connection, and it highlighted India’s status as the cradle and custodian of the Buddhist legacy that is treasured across Asia.
With the repatriation of the sacred relics of Arahant Sariputra and Arahant Maudgalyayana, another historic cultural and spiritual exchange between Mongolia and India has been successfully culminated. The event has had other purposes beyond its religious significance: it has bolstered diplomatic relations, highlighted Buddhist legacy, and reinforced the profound historical links between the two countries.
Image: Swarajya
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