During his two-day visit, Shah is scheduled to pay homage to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha as Ladakh hosts the first-ever international exposition of the holy relics. In addition, he will lay the foundation stone for a 10 thousand litres per day capacity dairy plant in Kargil and participate in other dairy development programmes.
In a post on social media platform X, Shah described the occasion as a moment of profound good fortune, stating that he was attending the historic exposition beginning on May 1. He noted that devotees from across the world would gather to offer veneration to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha.
The sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha were transported to Leh on Wednesday aboard a special Indian Air Force aircraft. The relics were brought by Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche and Khenpo Thinlas Chosal of Matho Monastery. Upon arrival, they were given a ceremonial reception, with large crowds of residents gathering along roads and outside their homes to pay respect.
The exposition marks the beginning of a rare and significant spiritual event in the Union Territory of Ladakh, scheduled for the first two weeks of May. The Piprahwa relics are ancient remains and associated artefacts linked to Gautama Buddha, discovered at Piprahwa, an archaeological site in present-day Uttar Pradesh near the Nepal border.
The relics have gained renewed global attention following the repatriation in July 2025 of a related collection of gems and offerings from a British family and a private collection, ending more than a century of colonial possession. They have previously been exhibited in several countries, including Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, drawing widespread international reverence.
For this historic exposition, the relics will be open for public veneration at Jivetsal from May 2 to May 10. They will then be taken to Zanskar on May 11 and May 12, followed by exposition at the Dharma Centre in Leh on May 13 and May 14, before being returned to Delhi on May 15.
The event is being viewed as a landmark convergence of faith, heritage, and international cultural engagement, positioning Ladakh as a significant centre of global Buddhist devotion during this rare exposition.
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