Museum building at Lalitgiri in Odisha. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
A rare Buddhist relic dating back to the 3rd century BC has been brought out of a museum and put on public display in Lalitgiri in Jajpur district to give monks, scholars and devotees from across the country an opportunity to view it, an official said on Monday (Jan 19, 2026).
The occasion was Guru Padmasambhava’s second ceremony at Lalitgiri on 16 January. The sacred precincts of Lalitgiri witnessed rituals, prayers and meditations in honor of Guru Padmasambhava, the revered Buddhist master credited with promoting Vajrayana Buddhism, and reflected his official teachings of mindfulness, compassion and compassion.
“On this solemn occasion, a rare Buddhist relic dating back to the 3rd century BC, as identified by the Archaeological Survey of India, was ceremoniously taken out of its protected enclosure at the ASI Lalitgiri Museum and put on public display on January 16,” an official statement issued by the state government said.
Generally preserved under strict preservation protocols, the relic was made available to the public as part of religious ceremonies, offering devotees a rare and deeply reverent opportunity to pay their respects.
“The observance reaffirmed the importance of Lalitgiri on the global Buddhist map and further positioned Odisha as a custodian of ancient Buddhist civilization, heritage and living traditions,” said Union Minister for Language, Literature and Culture Suryabanshi Suraj.
The public display of the sacred relic has been done as an initiative of ASI in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, reflecting a joint commitment to preserve, promote and respectfully present Odisha’s rich Buddhist heritage.
The event was organized with proper coordination between the religious authorities and the archeological custodians to always maintain the dignity, safety and preservation of the relic.
Published – 20 Jan 2026 12:50 IST
