LEH: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, on Monday chaired a high-level preparatory meeting at Lok Niwas to review arrangements for the upcoming holy exposition of the sacred Buddha relics in the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra and several revered spiritual leaders, including H.E. Thiksay Rinpoche, H.E. Drukpa Thuksey, H.E. Bakula Rangdol Nima Rinpoche, H.E. Drubwang Rinpoche, H.E. Khenchen Rangdol Rinpoche, H.E. Urgyan Rinpoche, H.E. Palga Rinpoche, H.E. Khantul Rinpoche, H.E. Liktse Khamtak Rinpoche, H.E. Thiksay Khamtak Rinpoche and H.E. Tsamtrul Rinpoche.
Relics to Arrive in Leh on April 28–29
Briefing the meeting, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra described the initiative as historic, noting that it was undertaken at the instance of the Lt Governor to enable the people of Ladakh to receive the blessings of the sacred relics locally. He informed that after the Lt Governor submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India—highlighting Ladakh’s profound Buddhist heritage—the proposal was approved.
The sacred relics are expected to arrive in Leh on April 28–29, with a grand ceremonial reception scheduled for May 1. They will be placed at Jivestal for public exposition for around 15 days, allowing devotees from across Ladakh to offer prayers and seek blessings.
Kundra added that a review meeting of the planning and coordination committee will be convened shortly. He assured that adequate transportation and logistical arrangements would be made to facilitate participation from all districts.
Spiritual Leaders Suggest Security, Global Outreach
The revered Rinpoches welcomed the initiative and expressed gratitude to the UT Administration. They offered suggestions including robust security measures, efficient crowd management systems, formation of dedicated sub-committees for smooth execution, and adoption of best practices from international events such as the Global Peace Prayer in Bhutan.
They also proposed mass chanting by different Buddhist sects, a ceremonial reception at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, multilingual dissemination of information for devotees and tourists, screening of films on Lord Buddha, and invitations to ambassadors from Southeast Asian countries and representatives of Buddhist learning centres.
‘A Defining Spiritual Milestone’
Addressing the gathering, Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta termed the exposition a “historic and spiritually significant occasion” for Ladakh. He shared that the idea was inspired after his meeting with the Hon’ble Prime Minister and his visit to view the sacred Piprahwa Buddha relics in New Delhi.
Noting Ladakh’s deep-rooted Buddhist traditions and large devotee base, he said it was important that people be given the opportunity to seek blessings within the region.
Emphasising that only two months remain for preparations, the Lt Governor called for meticulous planning, seamless inter-departmental coordination and time-bound execution. He stressed the formation of sub-committees to oversee logistics, security, medical facilities, sanitation and volunteer management to ensure accountability and efficiency.
Highlighting the broader spiritual significance, he underscored the need for mass prayers, mantra chanting and an interfaith seminar, especially in the current global context, to convey a strong message of peace, unity and harmony from Ladakh to the world. He added that the teachings of Lord Buddha must inspire the younger generation to embrace compassion, unity and mutual respect.
With a large influx of tourists expected in May, the Lt Governor directed concerned departments to create awareness among visitors about the historical and spiritual importance of the sacred relics.
He assured that the UT Administration would work in close coordination with religious authorities and security agencies to ensure smooth crowd management and a secure, spiritually enriching experience for all devotees.
The Lt Governor also sought the continued guidance and cooperation of the revered Rinpoches and appealed to the people of Ladakh to actively participate in making the holy exposition a grand success and a defining spiritual milestone for the Union Territory.
