India to Display Sacred Devnimori Buddha Relics in Sri Lanka

India will showcase the sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka from February 4 to 10, as part of a major spiritual and cultural outreach initiative aimed at reinforcing the centuries-old civilisational and Buddhist ties between the two countries. The relics will be displayed for public veneration at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, and are scheduled to return to India on February 11.

The public exposition follows the vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025 and reflects India’s emphasis on cultural diplomacy and people-to-people engagement rooted in a shared Buddhist heritage.

Venue and Significance

The relics will be enshrined at the historic Gangaramaya Temple, one of Sri Lanka’s most revered Buddhist institutions and a prominent centre of religious learning and cultural exchange.

About the Devnimori Relics

• The relics are currently preserved at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat.
• They originate from the Devnimori archaeological site near Shamlaji in Gujarat’s Aravalli district.
• The site was excavated in 1957 by archaeologist S. N. Chowdhry, revealing important Buddhist remains dating to the early centuries of the Common Era, highlighting the spread of Buddhism in western India.

Archaeological Importance

• The relic casket was discovered inside the Devnimori Stupa at a height of 24 feet.
• Made of green schist, the casket bears an inscription in Brahmi script and Sanskrit reading “Dashabala Sharira Nilaya”, meaning “the abode of the Buddha’s bodily relic.”
• The casket contained a copper box with sacred ashes, along with silk cloth, beads, and a gold-coated silver reliquary, underscoring its religious and historical significance.