Buddha relics return: Indian delegation reaches Ulaanbaatar to retrieve disciples' holy relics
Synopsis
India's cultural diplomacy took a spiritual turn as a 45-member delegation flew into Ulaanbaatar to retrieve the sacred relics of Buddha's two chief disciples after a sold-out 10-day exposition at Mongolia's most revered monastery — the second such mission in four years, underscoring a deepening India-Mongolia Buddhist corridor.
Key Takeaways
Ladakh Lt Governor Vinai Saxena led the Indian delegation to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 8 June 2026 to retrieve the holy relics.
The relics of Arahant Sariputra and Arahant Maudgalyayana were on a 10-day exposition at Gandantegchenling Monastery from 31 May to 9 June 2026 .
The nearly 45-member delegation included monks from India and Sri Lanka and was originally led by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya .
The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) , Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka , and National Museum of India jointly organised the exposition.
In June 2022 , four Kapilavastu Relics were similarly taken to Mongolia for an 11-day exposition — their first visit in 29 years .
Ladakh and Arkhangai Province signed an MOU in October 2025 covering cultural, trade, and educational cooperation.
An Indian delegation led by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Saxena arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 8 June 2026 to facilitate the return of the sacred relics of Lord Buddha's two principal disciples — Arahant Sariputra and Arahant Maudgalyayana — to India. The delegation flew in aboard a special Indian Air Force (IAF) flight, marking the conclusion of a landmark religious exposition that drew thousands of devotees to the Mongolian capital.
Arrival and Reception
The delegation was received at Ulaanbaatar airport by Tserennadmid Byambadoo, Governor of Arkhangai Province of Mongolia, Indian Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve, and senior monks from the Gandan Monastery. The Indian Embassy in Mongolia confirmed the arrival in a post on X, noting that the delegation had come 'to take back to India the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha's two Chief Disciples.'
The Exposition in Mongolia
The relics had been brought to Mongolia from India for a 10-day public exposition at the Gandantegchenling Monastery, running from 31 May to 9 June 2026. They arrived in Ulaanbaatar via a special IAF flight from New Delhi, accompanied by a high-level delegation originally led by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. The nearly 45-member delegation included senior officers and monks from both India and Sri Lanka. Throughout the exposition, devotees in Ulaanbaatar lined up from early morning daily to pay their respects at the monastery.
Organisations Behind the Initiative
The exposition was jointly organised by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, the National Museum of India under the Ministry of Culture, in association with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, at the request of the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery. The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) also played an active role in coordinating the event.
What Governor Acharya Said
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who led the original delegation bringing the relics to Mongolia, described the mission as far more than a logistical exercise. 'As we arrive and carry the sacred body relics of Arhant Sāriputta and Arhant Mahāmoggalāna — the two chief disciples of Lord Buddha — from the soil of India to the beautiful land of Mongolia, we are not merely transporting historical antiquities but we are carrying a living spark of enlightenment, a cosmic message of peace, and the timeless spiritual energy of the Tathagata's closest companions,' he stated.
Historical Context and Bilateral Ties
This is not the first time India has shared its Buddhist heritage with Mongolia. In June 2022, four sacred Kapilavastu Relics of the Buddha were taken from the National Museum of India to Mongolia for an 11-day exposition — their first visit to the country in 29 years. Notably, Ladakh and Arkhangai Province signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in October 2025 covering cultural exchange, tourism, trade, education, agriculture, astrophysics, and sports, deepening bilateral ties between the two regions.
The return of the relics to India is expected to mark another significant chapter in the cultural and spiritual diplomacy between the two countries.
Point of View
And both times it has been accompanied by high-level delegations and IAF flights, signalling that New Delhi views Buddhist heritage as a strategic asset in its neighbourhood and extended neighbourhood outreach. What is worth watching is whether these spiritual exchanges translate into durable bilateral frameworks: the Ladakh-Arkhangai MOU of October 2025 suggests they might, but MOUs without implementation timelines often stall. India's Buddhist circuit — stretching from Bodh Gaya to Sarnath — remains underleveraged as a regional tourism and diplomacy anchor, and Mongolia's enthusiastic reception of these relics points to genuine demand that policy could do more to channel.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Indian delegation travel to Ulaanbaatar in June 2026?
The delegation travelled to Ulaanbaatar to retrieve the holy relics of Lord Buddha's two chief disciples, Arahant Sariputra and Arahant Maudgalyayana, after a 10-day public exposition at the Gandantegchenling Monastery from 31 May to 9 June 2026. The relics had been brought from India at the request of the Mongolian monastery.
Who led the Indian delegation to Mongolia?
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Saxena led the delegation that arrived in Ulaanbaatar on 8 June 2026 to bring the relics back to India. The original delegation that brought the relics to Mongolia was led by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and comprised nearly 45 members, including monks from India and Sri Lanka.
Which organisations arranged the Buddha relics exposition in Mongolia?
The exposition was jointly organised by the Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, the National Museum of India under the Ministry of Culture, and the Government of Madhya Pradesh, at the request of the Gandan Tegchenling Monastery. The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) also played an active coordinating role.
Has India sent Buddhist relics to Mongolia before?
Yes. In June 2022, four sacred Kapilavastu Relics of the Buddha were taken from the National Museum of India to Mongolia for an 11-day exposition — their first visit to the country in 29 years. The 2026 exposition of Arahant Sariputra and Arahant Maudgalyayana's relics is the second such mission in four years.
What is the significance of the Ladakh-Arkhangai MOU?
Ladakh and Arkhangai Province of Mongolia signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2025, covering cultural exchange, tourism promotion, trade, education, agriculture, astrophysics, and sports. The MOU deepens bilateral ties between the two regions and provides a formal framework beyond the spiritual diplomacy represented by the relic expositions.
