Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein arrived in Colombo on February 9 as part of an official Indian delegation to receive and facilitate the return of the sacred Devnimori relics of Buddha from Sri Lanka. He described the occasion as “immense spiritual and national importance,” highlighting its deep civilisational significance.
“Arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, along with Governor of Madhya Pradesh Shri Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel ji for the return of the holy Devnimori relics of Buddha from Sri Lanka,” Mein said in a post on X.
Arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka alongside Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel ji for the return of the Holy Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha from Sri Lanka.
Deeply honoured to be part of the delegation for bringing back Holy Devnimori relics of… pic.twitter.com/Js4eRjxpop
— Chowna Mein (@ChownaMeinBJP) February 9, 2026
Expressing pride in being part of the initiative, the Deputy Chief Minister said he felt “deeply honoured” to join the delegation tasked with bringing back the sacred Devnimori relics. He noted that the occasion goes beyond national boundaries and carries deep meaning for Buddhists worldwide.
Calling it a sacred and historic moment, Mein said the event holds profound spiritual, cultural and civilisational significance for the nation and millions of Buddhists across the globe. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nominating him to the delegation.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for nominating me and granting me the privilege to be associated with this moment of immense spiritual and national importance,” Mein added.
Historic Devnimori legacy
The relics had been taken from India on February 4. Among the most revered Buddhist antiquities discovered in the country, the Devnimori relics were excavated in the 1960s from the ancient Buddhist site of Devnimori in Gujarat’s Aravalli region. Archaeologists uncovered a stupa believed to date back to the 3rd–4th century CE, according to officials from the state research department.
Within the stupa, relic caskets containing sacred remains associated with Buddha were found, along with inscriptions and artefacts linked to early Buddhist worship.
The relics hold immense significance in Buddhist tradition, symbolising devotion, continuity of faith, and the historical spread of Buddhism across regions. Their ceremonial movement and public display also carry strong diplomatic, spiritual, and cultural value, helping strengthen ties among Buddhist communities and nations connected through shared heritage, officials added.
In recent years, India has actively pursued the repatriation and cultural exchange of Buddhist relics to honour its civilisational heritage. In 2025, the sacred Piprahwa relics of Buddha, unearthed in Uttar Pradesh in 1898 and lost abroad for over a century, were brought back to India after 127 years through concerted diplomatic efforts. Additionally, relics of Buddha were displayed in Thailand and returned to India after a 26-day exposition, reflecting growing cultural diplomacy through shared Buddhist heritage.
